The United Nations (UN) has reiterated its call for urgent restraint amid the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, which has worsened the Gaza crisis. Senior UN officials have warned that further conflict could lead to new displacement in a region already strained by decades of war and instability.
The UNHCR has reported movements from Tehran and other parts of Iran, with people seeking safety from tit-for-tat missile strikes. Similarly, shelling in Israel has caused people to seek shelter elsewhere in the country or abroad.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said, “This region has already endured more than its share of war, loss, and displacement – we cannot allow another refugee crisis to take root.” He urged countries in the region to respect the right to seek asylum and ensure humanitarian access to those affected, while calling on all parties to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.
The conflict escalated sharply following Israeli airstrikes on multiple Iranian nuclear-related sites. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that three facilities had been targeted, including a centrifuge manufacturing workshop in Esfahan. The agency warned that continued strikes on nuclear infrastructure are severely undermining nuclear safety and security.
The UN Security Council has yet to reach consensus on a response, with Secretary-General António Guterres warning that if fighting escalated it could “ignite a fire no one can control.”
Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. The head of the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, described the territory as being devastated by nearly two years of conflict, with over 55,000 reported dead by local authorities.
The agency has warned that it is under threat due to the ongoing violence, with at least 318 staff members killed in Gaza since October. UNRWA continues to provide lifesaving services despite these pressures, but its financial situation is dire, and the agency chief appealed for urgent action from member states to avoid deeper suffering and despair.
Source: https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/06/1164731