Guterres: We are pursuing an initiative in Hormuz that mirrors the Black Sea agreement.

Politico cited UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres saying that the United Nations could be part of a plan aimed at de-escalating the flare-up and attacks and protecting freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

“Politico cited UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres saying that the United Nations could be part of a plan aimed at de-escalating the flare-up and attacks and protecting freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz”

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He said in an interview with the American site, published today Saturday, that there are contacts underway with the main actors in the Gulf states and the European Council regarding the Strait of Hormuz.

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Guterres cited UN mediation in the Black Sea initiative, which allowed Ukrainian grain, foodstuffs, and fertilizer exports during the war with Russia through a humanitarian corridor starting in July 2022, and it lasted a year before Moscow withdrew its support.

He said: 'My main goal is to determine whether it would be possible to create conditions in the Strait of Hormuz similar to what they were in the past.'

He added: 'We have working groups created to be able to do that. But we prefer to work directly with the United States and other countries.'

And when asked whether Guterres had spoken with U.S. President Donald Trump since the start of the war on Iran, he answered affirmatively: 'No, no, no,' though he said he talks with others in the administration, but did not disclose their identities.

Guterres had said in other remarks published by Politico the day before yesterday that the United States' decision to strike Iran aligns with an Israeli strategy aimed at drawing Washington into a war, confirming that this objective 'has already been achieved.'

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He considered that the military escalation reflects intertwining in regional strategies, noting that U.S. involvement in the confrontation with Iran serves the calculations of other parties on the international stage.

He stressed that the key to ending the crisis remains in the hands of the United States, noting that an American decision to halt operations could open the door to de-escalation, pointing out that President Donald Trump is capable of persuading the parties concerned that the objectives have been achieved.

On March 2 of this month, Iran announced restricting navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and vowed to attack any ships attempting to pass through this strategic passage without coordinating with it, in response to American-Israeli aggression against it.

“Politico cited UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres saying that the United Nations could be part of a plan aimed at de-escalating the flare-up and attacks and protecting freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz”

Al-Jazeera Net

About 20 million barrels of oil pass through the strait daily, and closing it would increase shipping and insurance costs and raise oil prices, and it drew concerns about global economic repercussions.

'Personal project' for Trump.

In another context, Guterres welcomed the goal of the 'Peace Council' launched by Trump, which involves financing and providing the essential elements for the plan to rebuild Gaza in order to rebuild Palestinian homes and infrastructure.

Guterres told Politico: 'There is a goal identified and adopted by the Security Council, and we are actively cooperating with the structures created by the Peace Council.'

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He added that he does not see any need for the council beyond the Gaza reconstruction plan.

Guterres described the Peace Council as a 'personal project' of the American president.

He said in this regard: 'Everything else is a personal project of President Trump, in which he has full control over everything.'

He continued: 'This is not the effective way to address the serious problems we face now. We must be clear about international law, and clear about the values of the UN Charter. This is fundamental to any peace initiative.'

Trump announced the launch of the Peace Council on January 22 of the current month, and its charter was signed at a Davos ceremony in Switzerland, inviting dozens of world leaders to join it, and he said he sees the council dealing with other global challenges beyond a Gaza ceasefire, stressing that he does not intend for the council to replace the United Nations.