FILE PHOTO: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters
UN chief Antonio Guterres has welcomed the announcement of a peace deal between the U.S. and Iran that provides for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.Secretary General Guterres on Sunday (June 14, 2026) described it as a critical step towards the peaceful settlement of the conflict.West Asia war LIVEThe U.S. and Iran finalised a deal to end their 107-day war and open the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway used to ferry one-fifth of the global oil supplies, on Friday (June 12, 2026) after an in-person signing of the agreement in Switzerland.U.S. President Donald Trump made the announcement on Truth Social on Sunday (June 14, 2026) evening, easing pressure on the global energy markets, as officials said the peace agreement would be signed on June 19 in Switzerland.Mr. Guterres welcomed the announcement that the “United States and Iran have agreed on a peace deal that provides for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, as well as a framework for further negotiations," a statement issued by his spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, said Sunday (June 14, 2026)."This represents a critical step towards the peaceful settlement of the conflict,” Mr. Dujarric said.The Secretary-General expressed “deep appreciation" for the constructive role played by Pakistan, Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and other regional countries in supporting the negotiations that led to the peace deal.He reaffirmed that the United Nations stands ready to support the parties in achieving a durable and comprehensive peace.Details of the deal were not immediately available.Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, confirmed the agreement on state television but said Iran would not start implementing it until it was signed on Friday (June 19, 2026). Published - June 15, 2026 09:58 am IST
