Mohamed ElBaradei, the former Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, has made a passionate appeal for Gulf nations to act diplomatically in response to US President Donald Trump's 48-hour ultimatum to Iran. Trump warned that severe consequences would follow if Iran does not agree to a peace deal, reiterating a previous deadline. ElBaradei expressed alarm over the rising tensions, urging regional powers to prevent a potential conflict that could engulf the region. He questioned the effectiveness of international institutions like the United Nations in averting war, asking whether anything could be done to stop the escalating situation. The backdrop of this diplomatic crisis includes recent military actions, with Iran downing US aircraft and retaliatory strikes affecting both Iranian and US military installations. The conflict has already led to thousands of casualties and disrupted key shipping routes, raising concerns about further escalation if diplomatic efforts fail.