Cairo, July 19 (QNA) - The Arab League warned of the grave consequences of the ongoing escalation in the region, particularly in the Arabian Gulf, cautioning against a renewed descent into an unending cycle of violence.

In a statement on Sunday, Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Fahmy urged both the United States and Iran to take immediate steps to de-escalate tensions.

He stated that continued escalation would only inflict further losses on all parties, especially as the situation risks spiraling beyond control into broader mutual destruction, with severe economic repercussions for the region and the global economy.

Fahmy reaffirmed the League's unequivocal condemnation of Iran's attacks against a number of Arab states, describing them as wholly unacceptable.

He added that the Arab states have consistently rejected the resort to war and should not be made to bear the costs of its continuation or of the dangerous escalation currently unfolding.

The Arab League Secretary-General called for urgent and serious efforts to restore calm and for both the United States and Iran to honor the Memorandum of Understanding signed between them in June.

Fahmy stressed the importance of upholding freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, in accordance with international law and Security Council Resolution 2817, and refraining from using the Strait as an instrument of political pressure or economic coercion.

He said that wisdom, restraint, and a clear appreciation of the consequences of further escalation are essential at present.

The return to negotiations and constructive dialogue remains the only viable path towards resolving the outstanding issues peacefully, the Arab League Secretary-General added. (QNA)