UN's Guterres intensifies call on Israel-Iran ceasefire

Pretoria -  United Nations ( UN) Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday, 18 June 2025, remained profoundly alarmed by the ongoing military escalation between Israel and Iran, as the sides continued to trade airstrikes.  

“I reiterate my call for immediate de-escalation leading to a ceasefire. Any additional military interventions could have enormous consequences, not only for those involved but for the whole region and for international peace and security at large,” he said

Guterres, however, says he strongly appealed against any further internationalisation of the conflict. 

The crisis erupted on Friday last week. 13 June 2025, after Israel began targeting nuclear and military sites across Iran, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory strikes on Israeli cities.

Since then, more than 240 people have been killed across both countries, according to humanitarian agencies

In line with the development, the International Atomic Energy Agency, which has been monitoring Iran’s nuclear programme for decades, says it had received information that two centrifuge production facilities were struck on Wednesday, June 18.