Guterres issued a statement expressing his concern about Israel’s actions while talks between Iran and the United States focused on Iran’s nuclear ongoing program.

“The Secretary-General calls on both parties to exercise maximum restraint, avoiding at all costs a deepening of the conflict,” said spokesman Farhan Haq, who emphasized that it is “a situation that the region can badly afford.”

The Israeli army attacked areas of Iran on Thursday, without a prior declaration of war, with the stated objective of destroying Iran’s nuclear program.

Iranian civilian and military authorities have repeatedly warned that they would respond with absolute firmness to any Israeli or US aggression.

The United States said it did not participate in the attacks, although Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that Israel had “reported” that it considered the action necessary for its self-defense.

Previously, President Donald Trump warned of the possibility of a “massive conflict” in the Middle East that could occur “soon.”

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