UN: The war between Israel and Iran must not lead to a new refugee crisis.

The United Nations warned on Saturday that the escalating war between Iran and the Israeli occupation must not lead to a new refugee crisis in the Middle East, noting that "when people are forced to flee, they do not return quickly."

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, said that the region has "suffered more wars, losses, and displacement than it can bear," stressing that the international community cannot allow "a new refugee crisis to take root in the region."

"De-escalation is essential now," Grandi said, adding, "Once people are forced to flee, there is no quick return, and often the repercussions last for generations."

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that the intensity of the exchange of attacks has caused displacement in both Iran and Israel, with population movements observed within Tehran and other areas toward the borders of neighboring countries.

Residents of Tel Aviv also took refuge in shelters far from their places of residence, and in some cases, outside the country.

The UNHCR added that the ongoing conflict threatens to renew the uncertainty facing the approximately 3.5 million refugees in Iran, most of whom are Afghans, warning that their situation will worsen if the escalation continues.

The Commission called on countries in the region to respect the human right to seek safety, stressing the need to contain the conflict and prevent civilians from being exposed to further danger.

In a related development, the Israeli occupation announced on Saturday that it had launched airstrikes on missile storage and launch sites in central Iran. This is part of a military campaign that began on June 13, claiming that there was "intelligence" indicating that the Iranian nuclear program was approaching the "point of no return."

Iran denies seeking to develop nuclear weapons, asserting that its program is for civilian purposes. Meanwhile, Israel maintains an ambiguous position regarding its possession of nuclear weapons, although the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute estimates that the entity possesses approximately 90 nuclear warheads.

Iranian counterattacks using missiles and drones killed 25 people in various areas of Tel Aviv.