UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said during an emergency Security Council session convened following the American strike on Iran that "the bombing of nuclear facilities marks a dangerous turning point in a region already suffering from turmoil. The peoples of the region cannot endure another round of destruction, yet we now face the risk of descending into an endless cycle of revenge after revenge. To prevent this – diplomacy must prevail. Civilians must be protected. Freedom of maritime navigation must be secured. We must act immediately and decisively to stop the fighting and return to serious and sustained negotiations regarding Iran's nuclear program."