United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that the ongoing West Asia conflict is disproportionately affecting the poorest and the most vulnerable populations, calling for an immediate end to the war and a renewed push for diplomacy. In a post on social media, Guterres said the humanitarian consequences of the conflict are being borne by civilians who have no role in the conflict. He added that shock waves of the conflict in West Asia are falling hardest on those who bear no responsibility, the poorest & the most vulnerable.

The UN chief stressed that diplomacy and adherence to international law are the only viable solutions to the crisis. In a separate social media post, Guterres also highlighted the economic impact of the conflict, particularly the prolonged disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. He said the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz is choking the movement of oil, gas & fertiliser at a critical moment in the global planting season. He added that civilians across the region were facing severe consequences as the conflict continued. The Secretary-General said the UN is working to reduce the impact of the conflict but stressed that ending the war remains the most effective solution.