UN Secretary-General Guterres released a statement on the 19th: "I have two clear messages:

​First, to the United States and Israel:

It is time to end this war that is slipping out of control. It has caused great suffering for civilians, had a significant impact on the global economy, and could lead to catastrophic consequences, especially for the least developed countries.

​Second, to Iran:

Stop attacking your neighbors, who have never been involved in this conflict.

Guterres' statement expressed serious concerns about the escalation of the conflict, mainly sending the following signals:

Pressure on the US-Israel camp: Calling for an immediate end to the war, emphasizing that the current conflict has caused a humanitarian disaster, impacted the global economy, and hit the least developed countries particularly hard.

Warning to Iran: Clearly demanding that it stop attacking neighboring countries not involved in the conflict, aiming to curb the spread of the flames and prevent the regional situation from spiraling out of control.

Guterres' remarks are just a statement, he dares not speak firmly to the US and Israel, but is rather harsh toward Iran. In fact, the United Nations' mediation role in the US-Iran issue (including the broader Middle East conflict) is very limited. This is mainly determined by its structural difficulties and political realities.

Structural constraints: The decision-making mechanism of the UN Security Council is a microcosm of great power rivalry. As one of the five permanent members, the United States often uses its veto power to protect Israel or block resolutions that are unfavorable to itself, leading to long-term paralysis of the Security Council on key issues.

Implementation challenges: Even if a resolution is passed, it lacks enforcement power. If powerful countries ignore international law, the United Nations lacks the means like a "world police" to ensure the implementation of resolutions.

Political reality marginalization: In some core issues, key players may bypass the United Nations and resolve matters through other mechanisms. The United Nations can only play a role in mediation and post-war reconstruction when all parties involved are willing to cooperate.

Despite its limitations, it remains the most representative political forum and humanitarian coordination platform globally.

Original: toutiao.com/article/1860127999361036/

Statement: The article represents the views of the author alone.