Riyadh: UN Secretary-General Ant³nio Guterres called for respect for freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab Al-Mandeb Strait, and surrounding areas in accordance with international law, stressing that de-escalation, diplomacy, and dialogue must be priorities in the Middle East.

According to Saudi Press Agency, this statement was made during a press conference held ahead of the opening of the High-Level Week of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, as world leaders prepare to convene at the organization's headquarters in New York.

Guterres emphasized the importance of protecting the Palestinian people and ensuring unimpeded humanitarian aid access. He called for the implementation of the Gaza peace plan and an end to what he described as the "creeping annexation of the West Bank," affirming that peace cannot be achieved without a two-state solution.

He urged world leaders to uphold the UN Charter, international law, and human rights, and to address three key threats: unregulated artificial intelligence, the climate crisis, and worsening inequalities. Guterres warned of the risks associated with AI and called for controls to ensure its safety, transparency, and accountability.