The United Nations has issued a stark warning over the escalating Middle East conflict, cautioning that continued strikes, particularly near nuclear facilities, could spiral into an “unmitigated catastrophe”.
Addressing an urgent session of the UN Human Rights Council, UN human rights chief Volker Türk flagged the growing risks posed by the ongoing hostilities between Iran and Israel, The Guardian reported.
“Recent missile strikes near nuclear sites in both Israel and Iran underscore the immense danger of further escalation. States are flirting with unmitigated catastrophe,” he said.
Türk also raised concerns over violations of international law, noting that several strikes risked harming civilians and critical infrastructure.
“Many of the strikes in this conflict raised serious concerns… [international law] prohibits attacks targeting civilians and their infrastructure,” he added, warning of broader regional consequences for countries such as Iraq, Syria and the occupied Palestinian territories.
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His remarks come amid reports that Iranian missiles struck areas near Israel's nuclear research hub in the Negev desert, including cities like Dimona and Arad. The escalation followed a strike on Iran's Natanz nuclear facility, which Tehran blamed on Israel, though it denied responsibility.
Even as tensions rise, US President Donald Trump has claimed that negotiations are underway.
“We're talking to the right leaders, and they want to make a deal so badly,” Trump said, asserting talks were happening “right now.”
However, Iranian officials dismissed the claims as “fake news,” with military spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari stating: “Someone like us will never come to terms with someone like you. Not now, not ever.”
According to reports by the Associated Press and The New York Times, Washington has proposed a 15-point ceasefire plan to Tehran via Pakistan, though its prospects remain uncertain. At the same time, the US is reportedly preparing to deploy up to 2,000 additional troops to the region.
On the ground, the conflict continues to intensify. Kuwait and Bahrain faced fresh strikes overnight, with a drone hitting a fuel tank at Kuwait International Airport, temporarily halting operations, The Guardian reported.
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Air raid sirens were also reported in Bahrain, where a drone strike earlier killed a foreign worker and injured several others.
The widening conflict is also straining regional diplomacy. Gulf nations, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, have expressed frustration as attacks persist. Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansar said, “Our focus at this time is entirely dedicated to defending our country… [but] we are ready to help in any process that would bring the conflict to an end.”
Economic Fallout:
Beyond the battlefield, the economic fallout is mounting. The near closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil and fertiliser trade, has disrupted supplies. The World Trade Organization has warned of cascading effects on agriculture, with Deputy Director-General Jean-Marie Paugam noting: “The effect compounds the following year: harvests shrink and prices rise.”
Financial markets have turned volatile, with oil prices swinging sharply on ceasefire hopes and Asian equities gaining on diplomatic signals. Yet uncertainty remains high, underlining the fragile balance between conflict escalation and the search for a diplomatic off-ramp.
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