The United Nations human rights chief said on Tuesday the resumption of hostilities between the United States and Iran was a huge setback for civilians in the region, and he urged restraint.
"The return to wider hostilities in the Middle East between the US and Iran is a huge setback for civilians in the region and beyond. It undermines peace efforts and deepens instability, with grave risks for human rights across the entire region," the UN high commissioner for human rights Volker Turk said in a statement.
Iran fired missiles at Jordan and Bahrain on Tuesday after the United States launched a five-hour attack on Iranian targets, stepping up a battle for control of the Strait of Hormuz that has pushed up oil prices to four-week highs.
US forces carried out waves of attacks for the third night in a row after Tehran said it had closed the strait, prompting US President Donald Trump to reinstate a blockade of Iranian shipping.
Iran hit back by attacking a Jordan with ballistic missiles while Bahrain said it had fended off an Iranian aerial attack. Jordan said it had shot down four ballistic missiles and explosions were heard in Manama, Bahrain's capital.
The worsening attacks have increased doubts that a memorandum of understanding signed last month will lead to a permanent halt in the war, which has disrupted global energy supplies and raised fears of a rise in inflation globally.
