NEW YORK — UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the Middle East is on the brink of a dangerous “cycle of retaliation” following US strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, calling the situation a “perilous turn” for the region.

At an emergency UN Security Council meeting, Guterres and IAEA head Rafael Grossi urged restraint and a return to diplomacy, warning that further violence could have catastrophic consequences and threaten the global nuclear non-proliferation regime.

Grossi confirmed visible damage at Iran’s Fordo nuclear site from US bunker-buster bombs but said the underground impact remains unverified. He stressed nuclear sites should never be attacked due to the risk of radioactive fallout.

Russia, China, and Pakistan proposed a UN resolution for an immediate ceasefire and condemned strikes on nuclear facilities. However, the Council remains divided, with France and the UK urging Iran to stay calm, and Israel rejecting the resolution, defending the US actions.