nited Nations chief Antonio Guterres warned that it is essential to avoid “any form of escalation” in the Gulf, as tensions continue to rise following the shooting down of an unmanned US drone this week by Iran.
“The world cannot afford a major confrontation the Gulf,” Guterres said on the sidelines of the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth in Lisbon.
“Everybody must keep nerves of steel.”
An unmanned US drone was shot down this week by Iran. Source: US Navy
Tehran claims responsibility for drone attack
On Thursday, an Iranian missile destroyed a US Global Hawk surveillance drone, an incident that Washington said happened in international airspace.
Trump later said he had called off a military strike to retaliate because it could have killed 150 people.
Tehran repeated on Saturday that the drone was shot down over its territory and said it would respond firmly to any US threat.
Guterres’ comments come on the eve of fresh sanctions on Iran, ordered by US President Donald Trump.
“It’s absolutely essential to avoid any form of escalation,” Guterres said.
