Guterres in Cairo urges 'maximum restraint' from US and Iran
UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned in Cairo that rising US-Iran rhetoric could spiral into a major escalation, and called for shipping rights to be fully restored in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab.
At a glance
- UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on the US and Iran on Monday, October 26, 2026, to show 'maximum restraint' and choose diplomacy.
- Speaking in Cairo beside Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, he warned that if current sabre-rattling becomes a major escalation, the region could get out of control.
- He called for navigation rights to be fully restored in and around the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab strait.
- Guterres praised Egypt's mediation, which followed an Egyptian-Pakistani call in Istanbul on Friday for renewed US-Iran talks.
- Iran's foreign ministry said on Monday that the United States is 'not serious' about negotiations.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday, October 26, 2026, urged the United States and Iran to show "maximum restraint" and return to diplomacy, warning that the current war of words could turn into a major escalation that would put the Middle East "out of control". He spoke to reporters in Cairo alongside Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty after talks on crises across the Middle East and Africa.
What Guterres said
"I want to send a loud and clear message to the parties. We need maximum restraint and diplomatic solutions," Guterres said. He called for dialogue to end the war between Iran and the United States and warned that if the sabre-rattling of recent days becomes a major escalation, the situation in the region could get out of control.
He also called for navigational rights and freedoms to be fully restored in and around the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab strait at the mouth of the Red Sea, describing both as critical corridors for world trade.
| Issue | Guterres's message in Cairo |
|---|---|
| US-Iran war | Maximum restraint, dialogue and diplomacy |
| Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab | Full restoration of navigation rights |
| Egypt | Praised as "a pillar of multilateralism" and for its mediation |
| Gaza | Lift Israeli restrictions on aid; protect civilians |
| West Bank | Deep alarm at settlements, evictions and violence |
| Sudan | "The fighting must stop" |
| Libya | Unify institutions and prepare for elections |
Egypt's mediation
Guterres praised Egypt for helping create conditions for dialogue between Washington and Tehran. His warning followed a joint Egyptian-Pakistani call, made at a meeting in Istanbul on Friday, for the two sides to resume talks. "At a time when divisions are deepening, it is critical to keep the channels of diplomacy open," he said. It was his ninth visit to Egypt since becoming secretary-general in 2017; his term ends at the end of this year.
Background
The US and Israel launched surprise strikes on Iran in late February. A ceasefire in April ended the first phase of heavy bombing, but the two sides still contest the Strait of Hormuz, where a US naval blockade of Iranian ports and Iranian restrictions have choked shipping. An interim arrangement reached in June later collapsed. In recent weeks, Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis have escalated missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, and US President Donald Trump has said Washington could either strike Iran again or reach a deal.
Reactions
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said on Monday that the United States was "not serious" about negotiations. Tehran says Washington must take the first steps to rebuild trust and has put forward a seven-point plan as a basis for talks. On the same day, top officials from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye held talks with Iran's leadership in Tehran, where President Masoud Pezeshkian called for regional unity.
Why it matters
A new round of US-Iran fighting would threaten oil and gas supplies that already sit at multi-year highs, with Brent crude above $100 and European gas at a four-year peak. Higher energy prices hit import-dependent economies hardest, including Pakistan, India and Egypt. Millions of South Asian workers in the Gulf would also be exposed to any widening of the war.
What happens next
Egypt, Pakistan and Qatar are continuing efforts to bring Washington and Tehran back to the table. The UN Security Council may take up the situation again if attacks increase, while the outcome of Israel's election on Tuesday, October 27, could also shape the next phase of the crisis.
Questions people are asking
What did Guterres say about the US and Iran?
On October 26, 2026, in Cairo, Guterres said he wanted to send a loud and clear message that the US and Iran need maximum restraint and diplomatic solutions, warning that escalation could make the situation in the region get out of control.
Why are the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab important?
Hormuz, at the mouth of the Gulf, and Bab al-Mandab, at the southern end of the Red Sea, are two of the world's busiest shipping chokepoints for oil, gas and trade. Both have been disrupted by the Middle East war.
Is there a US-Iran peace deal in 2026?
An interim arrangement brokered in June collapsed, and diplomacy has since stalled. Egypt, Pakistan and Qatar are trying to restart talks, but Iran says the US must take the first steps.
