UN human rights chief says war risks widening and civilians will pay price

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk condemned the Israeli and U.S. attacks on Iran as well as Iran's retaliatory strikes, saying civilians would pay the ultimate price.

Turk called on the parties to return to the negotiating table where they had actively been seeking a solution only hours before the military strikes began.

"I have already warned that failing to do so risks an even wider conflict, that will inevitably lead to further senseless civilian deaths and destruction on a potentially unimaginable scale, not just in Iran but across the Middle East region," he said.