United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a return to dialogue amid heightened maritime tensions in the Middle East in recent days as the United States and Iran continued to offer conflicting accounts of the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.
During a news briefing on Wednesday, Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for the UN chief, said that Guterres is closely following the developments in the Middle East, including the situation in and around the strait and in the Red Sea.
"The secretary-general remains convinced that a comprehensive and durable settlement can only be reached through dialogue and negotiations," said Haq.
"Such a settlement would help restore stability and confidence across the region, while also safeguarding the navigational rights and freedoms in and around the Strait of Hormuz and in the Red Sea."
Pakistan said it was working to bring the US and Iran back to the negotiating table ahead of the 60-day deadline of an interim agreement the two parties signed in June, which is set to expire this weekend.
