Nepal on Sunday said it was seriously concerned at the rising tensions and escalation of hostilities in the Middle East region.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Nepal firmly believes in a peaceful resolution of disputes and deplores the use of force.

We call on all the parties concerned to exercise maximum restraint and use dialogue and diplomacy to restore peace, reads the statement.

According to Reuters, Iran has launched an attack over a suspected Israeli strike on its consulate in Syria on April 1 that killed top Revolutionary Guards commanders and followed months of clashes between Israel and Iran’s regional allies, triggered by the war in Gaza.

The Middle East has become a hotbed of conflict since the outbreak of the Gaza war, as Iran-backed factions have pledged their solidarity with the Palestinians and launched attacks from multiple fronts, including Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq.