UN chief urges restraint after US drone downed

The U.N. says Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is urging all parties to "exercise maximum restraint" and avoid any further escalation following Iran's shooting down of an American drone.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Thursday that Guterres is "very concerned" and is calling on the parties to "avoid any action that could inflame the situation."

Dujarric said the secretary-general stresses again "that the world cannot afford a major conflict in that area."

Iran said the unmanned U.S. Navy drone "violated" its territorial airspace, while the U.S. called its downing an "unprovoked attack" in international airspace over the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf.

Asked whether there should be an investigation and who should carry it out, Dujarric said: "Obviously the facts need to be established. ... Various parties are looking into the issue right now."