Prof Anetekhai calls for strategic restraint, coordinated diplomacy in Iran–Israel conflict
Emeritus Professor, Anetekhai Martins Agenuma, former Chairman, Conflict Resolution and Policy Advisory Committee
Lagos State University, Lagos, Nigeria, has called for strategic restraint, coordinated diplomacy in Iran–Israel conflict.
The Distinguished Professor made his stance known in a press release on Thursday, June 19, 2025.
He said, “As the world watches with growing concern the unfolding confrontation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the State of Israel, it has become imperative to issue a sober and urgent call for de-escalation, restraint, and coordinated international diplomacy.”
He disclosed that the last 72 hours have marked a dangerous turning point. “We are witnessing a direct military clash between two powerful nations with histories of mistrust and unresolved grievances. The consequences are no longer hypothetical—they are real, visible, and rising. Civilian lives are being lost, critical infrastructure has been damaged, and the region teeters on the edge of a broader conflict.
“This is not a time for vengeance or maximalist ambitions. It is a moment that demands maturity, memory, and meaningful mediation,” Anetekhai stated.
He observed that Iranian drone and missile strikes have targeted Israeli civilians and urban areas, including hospitals, while Israel has launched retaliatory strikes deep into Iranian territory, including suspected nuclear sites.
He added that over 600 fatalities have been reported, with mounting humanitarian needs on both sides. “There is credible risk of regional destabilization involving Hezbollah, the Houthis, and broader military actors.
The erudite professor therefore made some strategic recommendations which include, immediate 15-Day “Strike Freeze” – Brokered by the United Nations and G7, this pause would allow humanitarian response and create diplomatic breathing space: Geneva-Led Crisis Talks – Neutral nations must lead a multilateral forum with participation from Iran and Israel under indirect terms, and Humanitarian Corridors – Establishment of protected zones for aid and evacuation, coordinated by the ICRC, WHO, and neutral monitors.
Other recommendations include Discouragement of Destabilizing Rhetoric – Political leaders must resist inflammatory language. Calls for regime elimination or full confrontation serve no strategic purpose and Regional and Naval Containment – NATO and allied nations should prepare deconfliction mechanisms to prevent spillovers into broader conflict theatres.
In what he called historical imperative, he said from the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 to the Iraq War of 2003, history reminds us that diplomatic courage saves lives and preserves legitimacy. Both Iran and Israel have5 much to protect—but they have far more to lose by escalating further.
He urged that the United Nations, NATO, and regional powers must act quickly and jointly—not to assign blame, but to enforce peace architecture before this crisis reaches irreversible proportions.
His final appeal “Let it be known that silence at this time is complicity. Let it be remembered that true leadership is not shown in battlefield triumphs, but in moments when war is averted.
“This is a test of modern diplomacy. The world must not fail it,” he said.
