Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Fahmy warned on Sunday of the serious consequences of the ongoing escalation in the region, urging efforts to avoid a renewed cycle of violence.
In a statement, Fahmy called on the United States and Iran to immediately work to de-escalate tensions, noting that continued escalation would only bring further losses to all sides.
He warned of the risk that the situation could spiral out of control, leading to mutual destruction and worsening economic conditions in the region and beyond.
The secretary-general added that Iranian attacks on several Arab countries are rejected and condemned, noting that Arab states had previously opposed war and should not bear the costs of its continuation or escalation.
Fahmy also called for efforts to restore calm and uphold mutual commitments under the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Iran and the United States, including safeguarding freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, and avoiding the use of the waterway as a tool for pressure or "economic coercion."
He stressed that the current situation requires all parties to exercise restraint and consider the consequences, emphasizing that a return to negotiations and dialogue is the only way to address outstanding issues.
The United States and Iran signed the MoU in June, under which the two sides were expected to hold negotiations within 60 days toward a final agreement.
However, tensions have flared again recently as both sides traded rounds of attacks across the Middle East.
Arab League urges U.S., Iran to de-escalate amid regional tensions
Arab League urges U.S., Iran to de-escalate amid regional tensions
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Monday that his country is engaged in a "full-scale war" with the United States, stressing the importance of maintaining economic stability during wartime.
"Today's war is not a war of merely missiles. The enemy has come to the conclusion that it cannot force the Iranian nation to surrender with military strikes," Pezeshkian said at a meeting of the High Council of the Judiciary in Tehran, according to a statement published on the website of his office.
He said that the "enemy" has waged a "hybrid war" against Iran, describing the economy and the people's livelihood as the most important areas of confrontation with the "enemy," and highlighting the necessity to maintain economic stability and protect social assets as two priorities of "the system of governance during wartime."
Pezeshkian added that his government "fully protected" Iran's national rights and interests in negotiations with the United States, including in the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on June 18.
Iran has received proposals from mediators, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday, amid continued tit-for-tat strikes between Iran and the United States.
Baghaei made the remarks at a weekly press conference in Tehran without giving details, when asked whether he could confirm reports about new proposals by Qatar for the revival of U.S.-Iran negotiations and a 10-day ceasefire.
Baghaei stressed that Iran's diplomatic apparatus remains active alongside its military responses to U.S. attacks, while condemning recent U.S. strikes against civilian infrastructure, including bridges and medical centers, as violating "people's rights to life, security and human dignity."
On the peace memorandum of understanding signed with Washington on June 18, he said the agreement's "text is completely clear," and Washington has no pretext to breach its promises under it.
He said Tehran adhered to a "commitment for commitment" principle until Washington repeatedly violated its commitments, prompting Tehran to cease its own obligations.
On the Strait of Hormuz, he affirmed Iran's resolve to exercise its sovereignty over the waterway and prevent any "misuse" against its interests.
The United States has launched multiple strikes on Iran's southern provinces over the past week, saying they were aimed at "degrading Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping."
Iran has responded with waves of missile and drone attacks targeting U.S. military bases and facilities in regional countries, including Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan.
The escalation comes as the two sides, under their MoU, were scheduled to hold negotiations within a 60-day period to reach a final agreement.
Iranian president says his country in "full-scale war" with U.S.
