INTERNATIONAL — March 25, 2026
UN Secretary-General Guterres Appoints Envoy for Middle East Peace Efforts
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed diplomat Jean Arnault as his envoy to support Middle East peace efforts, warning the world is on the brink of wider war and highlighting risks from a potential Strait of Hormuz closure.
The Ehtebar Desk — originates with Hasht-e Subh — 2 min read
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed Jean Arnault, an experienced diplomat, as his personal envoy to support efforts to end the conflict in the Middle East.
Guterres stated the world is on the brink of a wider war, according to a Reuters report on Wednesday. He said he has been in close contact with many parties in the region and around the world, and that peace talks are underway.
The UN chief warned that a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz could disrupt the transport of oil, gas and chemical fertilizers during a critical juncture in the global planting season.
"The time has come to climb down the ladder of escalation and climb up the ladder of diplomacy," Guterres said.
Arnault will use "all his efforts" to support the peace process, Guterres added.
According to a UN announcement, Arnault has more than 30 years of experience in international diplomacy. He has worked in UN missions in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America, focusing on peace and mediation.
Read the original reporting at Hasht-e Subh →
Reliability assessment
Single source (Hasht-e Subh) with direct, on-record attribution to named UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, UN announcement, and Reuters citation; concrete details on appointment, statements, and envoy's experience confirm core event.
The source language reads straight.
Independent web corroboration
A separate web search returned 8 matching reports. A selection:
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday named veteran U.N. diplomat <strong>Jean Arnault</strong> as his personal envoy to support efforts to end the Middle East conflict, saying the "world is staring down the barrel of a ...
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday named veteran French diplomat <strong>Jean Arnault</strong> to be his personal envoy on the conflict in the Middle East, saying it was "out of control" and the "world is staring ...
- U.N. chief names Arnault as personal envoy for Middle East war - AL-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent since 2012al-monitor.com
By David BrunnstromMarch 25 (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday named veteran French diplomat <strong>Jean Arnault</strong> to be his personal envoy on the conflict in the Middle East, saying it was "out of control" and the "world ...
UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday named veteran UN diplomat <strong>Jean Arnault</strong> as his personal envoy to support efforts to end the Middle East conflict, saying the "world is staring down the barrel of a wider war."
Across the newsrooms
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Hasht-e Subh
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Reported straight
Reported straight
Filed under
International — Antonio Guterres, Jean Arnault, United Nations, Middle East, Strait of Hormuz
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