Kathmandu. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appealed to Iran and Israel to “de-escalate tensions and choose the path of peace.”

He has urged the two countries to pursue a peaceful and diplomatic path in a message on social media.

“The Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, followed by Iran’s missile attack on Tel Aviv in response, is long overdue. It is time to stop this. A peaceful and diplomatic path must be pursued,” he said.

European Union President Ursula von der Leyen said she had spoken to Israeli President Isaac Herzog about the entire incident.

She wrote on social media, “I reiterate that Israel has the right to defend itself and its people. However, it is also essential to maintain regional stability.”

Ursula von der Leyen urged both sides to exercise restraint and reduce tensions.

Tensions between the two countries have been escalating since Iran fired ballistic missiles at Israel on Friday in retaliation for Israel’s attacks on various Iranian sites.