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U.N. chief names Jean Arnault as envoy for Middle East war

  • Mar 25
  • 1 min read
Riyadh, March 25, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday named veteran French diplomat Jean Arnault as his personal envoy on the conflict in the Middle East, warning that the war was “out of control” and that the world was facing the risk of a wider conflict. Guterres said several initiatives for dialogue and peace were underway and urged that they succeed, while warning that a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz was disrupting the movement of oil, gas and fertilizer at a critical point in the global planting season. “It is time to stop climbing the escalation ladder - and start climbing the diplomatic ladder,” Guterres told reporters at U.N. headquarters in New York. He called on the United States and Israel to end the war, urged Iran to stop attacking its neighbours, and said Hezbollah must halt attacks into Israel while Israel must stop military operations and strikes in Lebanon. He also warned that “the Gaza model must not be replicated in Lebanon.” Reuters reported that rising energy prices and disrupted fertilizer shipments linked to the war were increasing fears of renewed food-price pressure in vulnerable countries. The United Nations said Arnault has more than 30 years of diplomatic experience focused on mediation and peace settlements, with previous assignments across Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America. His most recent role was as Guterres’ personal envoy on Afghanistan and regional issues in 2021.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres gestures during a press conference, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Beirut, Lebanon, March 14, 2026. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir

Riyadh, March 25, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday named veteran French diplomat Jean Arnault as his personal envoy on the conflict in the Middle East, warning that the war was “out of control” and that the world was facing the risk of a wider conflict.


Guterres said several initiatives for dialogue and peace were underway and urged that they succeed, while warning that a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz was disrupting the movement of oil, gas and fertilizer at a critical point in the global planting season.


“It is time to stop climbing the escalation ladder - and start climbing the diplomatic ladder,” Guterres told reporters at U.N. headquarters in New York.


He called on the United States and Israel to end the war, urged Iran to stop attacking its neighbours, and said Hezbollah must halt attacks into Israel while Israel must stop military operations and strikes in Lebanon. He also warned that “the Gaza model must not be replicated in Lebanon.”


Reuters reported that rising energy prices and disrupted fertilizer shipments linked to the war were increasing fears of renewed food-price pressure in vulnerable countries.


The United Nations said Arnault has more than 30 years of diplomatic experience focused on mediation and peace settlements, with previous assignments across Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America. His most recent role was as Guterres’ personal envoy on Afghanistan and regional issues in 2021.

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