UN says its envoy is in Iran to support 'durable' end to conflict

WASHINGTON, April 8 (Reuters) – U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s personal envoy has arrived in Iran as part of a regional tour aimed at backing “a comprehensive and durable resolution” to the Iran war, the United Nations said on Wednesday.

Jean Arnault will hear Iranian perspectives “on the way forward” and reiterate Guterres’ commitment to support a peaceful settlement, a spokesperson said in a statement.

Arnault also called on all leaders to “choose the path of peaceful resolution and the protection of civilians,” the spokesperson added.

The veteran U.N. diplomat, named as Guterres’ envoy on the conflict last month, left for the Middle East on Monday but the United Nations has not detailed all of his planned stops.

(Reporting by David Brunnstrom and Susan Heavey in Washington;Edidint by David Ljunggren)