"United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an immediate end to escalating conflict in the Middle East, warning of global consequences, during a high-level meeting with European leaders in Brussels on Saturday. Footage shows Guterres walking alongside European Council President Antonio Costa and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, along with several EU leaders, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her Hungarian counterpart, Viktor Orban. "First, to the United States and to Israel: it's high time to end this war that is risking to get completely out of control, causing immense suffering to civilians," Guterres said. "The propagation around the global economy is really dramatic, with potential tragic consequences, especially for the least developed countries," the UN chief added. Turning to Iran, Guterres issued a separate appeal: "Stop attacking your neighbours. They were never parties to the conflict. The Security Council has condemned these attacks and has ordered to stop, as it has ordered to open the Strait of Hormuz." He stressed that disruptions to key global trade routes could have severe international repercussions. "The prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz causes enormous pain to so many people around the world who have nothing to do with this conflict," he added. Summarising his message, Guterres called for a shift away from military confrontation, saying, "It's time for the force of the law to prevail over the law of the force. It's time for diplomacy to prevail over war." European Council President Antonio Costa echoed the importance of international cooperation, describing the United Nations as "a key institution in the international order" and warning that abandoning multilateralism would lead to 'chaos' and further global instability. He added that ongoing conflicts, including in Ukraine, the Middle East, and parts of Africa, demonstrate the need to uphold a rules-based international system. Costa also reaffirmed the European Union's support for the UN and its leadership during what he described as a 'very troubled moment.' The meeting comes amid escalating tensions following a joint US-Israeli military operation against Iran since February 28 and subsequent retaliatory strikes by Tehran across the region."