The United Nations Security Council has warned Iran against “attacking your neighbors” and has ordered the opening of the Strait of Hormuz to allow oil tankers and other ships free navigation.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres aired the Security Council’s demand even as he asked the United States and Israel to end the war which he said stands the risk of getting “out of conrol.”

“It’s time for the force of the law to prevail over the law of the force,” declared Guterres in a video message posted on Thursday (March 19).

Guterres issued twin urgent appeals to the warring nations as the conflict entered its third week without little hope of being ended via diplomacy.

“First, to the United States and to Israel: It’s high time to end this war that is risking to get out of control, causing immense suffering on civilians and with propagation around the global economy that is really dramatic, with potential tragic consequences, especially for the least developed countries,” he said.

Addressing Iran, Gutierres stated: "Stop attacking your neighbors, they were never parties to the conflict.”

“The Security Council has condemned these attacks and ordered them to stop, as it has order to open the Strait of Hormuz,’ the UN chief stressed.

He added: “ The prolonged close of the Strait of Hormuz causes enormous pain in so many people around the world that have nothing to do with this conflict.”

Guterres strongly urged leaders of the three countries to give diplomacy a chance “to prevail over war.”