UNITED NATIONS, July 15 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is deeply concerned by the continuing military escalation in the Middle East region, said his spokesman Stephane Dujarric on Wednesday.
Guterres calls on all parties to take immediate steps for de-escalation and return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy, said Dujarric.
"The secretary-general reiterates that a return to full-scale hostilities would exact an intolerable toll on civilians and have catastrophic consequences for international peace and security and the global economy," said the spokesman.
"The secretary-general reiterates his call for the full restoration of international navigational rights and freedoms in and around the Strait of Hormuz. The exercise of navigational rights and freedoms must be respected by all parties in accordance with international law," he added. ■
