The United Nations supports Thailand and Cambodia to de-escalating tensions through dialogue, and welcomes the statement issued by the special Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers' meeting convened to address the ongoing conflict between the two countries, Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, said on Monday.
Thailand and Cambodia are urged to exercise maximum restraint and take immediate steps towards the cessation of all forms of hostilities, the Foreign Ministry of Malaysia, the rotating ASEAN chair, said Monday in a statement following the special ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting.
The meeting also called on the two countries to restore mutual trust and confidence, and return to dialogue, including through bilateral mechanisms, the statement said.
Dujarric emphasized that it is crucial for both countries to participate in the upcoming talks with a commitment to ending the conflict.
Dozens had been killed in Thailand-Cambodia border clashes, including soldiers and civilians from both countries, official data showed Monday.
Thailand's military said that ongoing border clashes with Cambodia had left 22 Thai soldiers dead.
Separately, data from Thailand's Ministry of Public Health showed 38 Thai civilians had also been killed in the multi-day conflicts.
Meanwhile, the Cambodian interior ministry issued a statement on Monday, confirming that the death toll of Cambodian civilians resulting from the Thai-Cambodian border clashes had risen to 21.
In addition, 83 people were injured, and over 540,000 individuals were displaced, including more than 280,000 women and 170,000 children.
The Thailand-Cambodia border conflict has reignited since Dec. 7, and both sides have accused the other of initiating the attack.
UN backs Thailand, Cambodia to de-escalate tensions through dialogue
Iran's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump's remarks about Iran seeking a ceasefire as "false and baseless," according to state-run Press TV.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei pushed back against Trump's remarks on social media platform Truth Social that the Iranian president "has just asked the United States of America for a ceasefire."
Trump added, "We will consider when the Hormuz Strait is open, free, and clear. Until then, we are blasting Iran into oblivion or, as they say, back to the Stone Ages!"
Trump has repeatedly claimed in recent days that Iran is seeking negotiations to end the war.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi acknowledged that messages have been exchanged between Iran and the United States through intermediaries over the past few days, but stressed that no negotiations have taken place.
On the same day, Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran's President, released a letter addressed to the American people, saying the Iranian people harbor no enmity toward American people, accusing the U.S. administration of fighting Iran as a "proxy for Israel."
"The Iranian people harbor no enmity toward other nations, including the people of America, Europe, or neighboring countries," Pezeshkian said, adding, "Even in the face of repeated foreign interventions and pressures throughout their proud history, Iranians have consistently drawn a clear distinction between governments and the peoples they govern."
In response to Trump's threats of conducting large-scale strikes on Iranian energy facilities, he said attacking the country's vital infrastructure directly targets the Iranian people, stressing that such actions constitute "war crimes" and involve consequences extending beyond Iran's borders.
Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities on Feb. 28, killing Iran's then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone strikes against Israel and U.S. assets in the Middle East, while tightening control over the Strait of Hormuz by restricting passage to vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States.
Wednesday's report by The Telegraph quoted Trump as saying he was strongly considering pulling the United States out of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) after the alliance failed to join the attacks on Iran.
Trump expressed dissatisfaction with NATO for "not being there," saying it was "actually hard to believe."
Responding to the U.S. president's remarks, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said at a press conference at 10 Downing that Street Britain would act in its national interest and would not change its position on the Iran war.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday that France is not taking part in the U.S.-Israel military action. The Elysee Palace also reaffirmed that France's position remains unchanged.
Iran rejects Trump's ceasefire claim as "false and baseless"
