In Islamabad, Guterres calls for end to US-Iran conflict

The UN Secretary-General appealed on Tuesday for an end to the United States-Iran war and the toll it has taken on global trade, as he began an official visit to Pakistan.“From Islamabad, I want to send a loud and clear message to all parties,” António Guterres told journalists in the capital.“End the conflict. Return to diplomacy. Fully restore navigational rights and freedoms in accordance with international law.”Regional escalationThe crisis began in late February following joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran.In response, Tehran launched counter attacks on targets in Gulf countries and Jordan, and blocked transit through the Strait of Hormuz chokepoint.The maritime corridor is critical for global trade in crude oil, fertilisers and liquified natural gas. Hundreds of ships and their crews have been stuck at sea for months. Meanwhile, fighting has spread to Yemen’s Red Sea coast where Iran-backed Houthi forces are battling Government troops, supported by Saudi Arabia, for control of the crucial Bab al-Mandab Strait. Pakistan’s ‘pivotal role’The Secretary-General saluted Pakistan for its leadership in helping to create the conditions for dialogue between the US and Iran.“Your efforts ...