UN chief to visit Pakistan ‘soon’, underlines its vital role in U.S.-Iran peace mediation

UNITED NATIONS, Sep 16 (APP):UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Thursday announced that he will visit Pakistan “soon,” highlighting the country’s pivotal role as one of the two key mediators working to resolve the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict.

Speaking during his final press conference ahead of the 81st UN General Assembly high-level week,  the UN chief strongly advocated for a return to dialogue to bring a peaceful end to the war.

Guterres’ visit, at the invitation of the government of Pakistan, is expected to take place next month.

Responding to a question about the possibility of peace talks between US and Iran at the UN, the secretary-general said,  “It would be very useful if the dialogue would take place here … probably it will take place somewhere else. But it is absolutely essential that that dialogue is established.”

He recalled that things were  moving in the right direction, noting the Memorandum of Understanding and then, all of a sudden , “everything got put in question again,” with the situation “enlarged”.

“It’s not only a question between the U.S. and Iran. We have also a number of countries in the Gulf that are being attacked, and of course, with a dramatic impact in their economies and in the global economy, which is also unacceptable,” Guterres said, adding that the complex set of problems require a serious dialogue between the U.S. and Iran, between Iran and the countries of the Gulf, including the mediators.

“You have two important ones, Pakistan – and I’ll be visiting Pakistan, by the way, soon – Pakistan and Turkiye, and also Egypt and Saudi Arabia, even if Saudi Arabia is at the present moment becoming one of the victims of this conflict,” the secretary-general added.

Guterres also stressed that there is no viable alternative to a peaceful settlement. He urged all parties involved to rely on diplomacy to prevent further catastrophic escalation in the region.