At the  15-members security  U.N. Security Council meeting , chaired by the U.S. this month, Russia and China moved unsuccessfully to block a discussion about a committee established to oversee and enforce U.N. sanctions on Iran. They were overruled 11-2 with two abstentions.

Addressing the council, U.S. envoy to the United Nations Mike Waltz accused Moscow and Beijing of seeking to protect Tehran by blocking the work of the so-called 1737 Committee.

Waltz charged that both China and Russia did not want a functional sanctions committee “because they want to protect their partner, Iran, and continue to maintain defense cooperation that is now once again prohibited.”

“All member states of the United Nations should be implementing an arms embargo against Iran, banning the transfer and trade of missile technology, and freezing relevant financial assets,” Waltz said.

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The resolution provides international legal authority for the multinational security mission.

“An adoption of the resolution today demonstrates the overwhelming support for the President’s vision for a stable Gaza where Palestinians determine their own destiny, free from terrorist rule and violence, and under President Trump’s bold leadership, the United States will continue to deliver results,” U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz said immediately after the resolution was adopted.

“We will seize the opportunity today to end decades of bloodshed and make lasting peace a reality, and we will work tirelessly with our partners, as we have over the last several months, to advance this vision for a more stable and prosperous Middle East,” he said.

No country voted against the resolution, though Russia and China abstained.

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“In view of the increasingly serious situation in terms of nuclear safety and security, the Board of Governors will meet in an extraordinary session tomorrow, which I will address,” Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said.

The sites targeted by the U.S. strikes contained nuclear material in the form of uranium enriched to different levels, the IAEA said, according to its most recent information before Israel’s strikes on Iran on June 13. The material “may cause radioactive and chemical contamination within the facilities that were hit,” the IAEA said. Grossi said no health impacts outside the targeted sites are expected after the U.S. strikes.

“I have repeatedly stated that nuclear facilities should never be attacked,” Grossi said.

A combination picture shows satellite images over Fordow, before and after the U.S. struck the underground nuclear facility, near Qom, Iran, on June 2, 2025, left, and June 22, 2025.

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Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, called the strike on the Iranian TV studio a “direct assault on press freedom” and accused Israel of being the “foremost enemy of truth.”

According to Iravani, more than 220 civilians in Iran have been killed since the start of Israel’s offensive, including 20 children. He added that more than 1,000 people have been injured.

At least 24 people have been killed by Iran’s retaliatory strikes against Israel, and nearly 600 injured, according to the Israeli prime minister’s office.

The Committee to Protect Journalists, a nonprofit which promotes press freedom around the world, also spoke out against the attack. “CPJ is appalled by Israel’s bombing of Iran’s state TV channel while live on air” said Sara Qudah, CPJ’s Middle East and North Africa regional director, in a post on X.

Missiles fired from Iran are pictured in the night sky over Jerusalem on June 14, 2025 as Israel and Iran exchanged fire a day after Israel unleashed an unprecedented aerial bombing campaign that Iran said hit its nuclear facilities, “martyred” top commanders and killed dozens of civilians.

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The IAEA is watching Iran’s nuclear facilities and the level of radiation “through constant communication with Iranian authorities,” Rossi said in a statement published on the IAEA website.

The agency, he added, is ready to respond to an emergency within an hour and will remain present in Iran. Grossi said he is in touch with inspectors on the ground and “stands ready to travel immediately.”

The IAEA Director General Grossi also provided a status update on Iran’s three key nuclear facilities — the fuel enrichment plants at Natanz and Fordow plus the Isfahan nuclear site.

Rafael Grossis said there had been no additional damage at Natanz since Israel’s opening strikes on Friday, which destroyed the above-ground part of the pilot fuel enrichment plant and electrical infrastructure.

The level of radioactivity remains unchanged and at normal levels outside the Natanz site, but within the facility “there is both radiological and chemical contamination,” Grossi said.

Grossi reported that four buildings had been damaged at Isfahan, but that off-site radiation levels remained unchanged.

‘Minor damage’ at US Embassy building in Tel Aviv

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee reported “some minor damage” to the American Embassy branch office in Tel Aviv on Sunday night due to “concussions of Iranian missile hits” nearby.

Huckabee said there were no injuries among U.S. personnel. American diplomatic offices in Israel remain closed alongside a shelter in place order for U.S. personnel.

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Speaking to the media on Saturday, the Secretary-General praised Bangladesh’s progress and highlighted the role of the international community in supporting the country’s future.

“This is a pivotal moment for Bangladesh and the international community must play its part in supporting your efforts towards a just, inclusive and prosperous future,” Mr. Guterres said.

“I am particularly pleased to be in Bangladesh at this important moment in your national journey,” Mr. Guterres said, acknowledging the leadership of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and the hopes of the Bangladeshi people for greater democracy, justice and prosperity.

He added that the country and its people can count on the UN as a “steadfast partner”, working alongside them to help build a sustainable and equitable future for all.

“As Bangladesh undergoes important reforms and transitions, I want to assure you that the UN stands ready to assist in fostering peace, national dialogue, trust and healing,” he said.

Bangladesh has been undergoing a period of transition following the resignation and departure of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last August after weeks of student-led protests. More than 300 people, including many children, were reportedly killed and over 20,000 injured. Sheikh Hasina had been in power since January 2009, having previously served as Prime Minister from 1996 to 2001.

The Secretary-General’s visit, coinciding with the holy month of Ramadan, was an opportunity to express solidarity with both the Bangladeshi people and the Rohingya refugees who have found shelter in the country.

On Friday, Mr. Guterres visited the refugee camps in southern Cox’s Bazar, meeting with Rohingya refugees and participating in an Iftar meal with them and members of the host community in the evening.

“I had an extremely moving visit to Cox’s Bazar yesterday. Ramadan reminds us of the universal values that connect humanity: compassion, empathy and generosity. Bangladesh is a living symbol of these values through your commitment to peace, development and humanitarian relief,” he said.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres, during his visit to the Rohingya refugee camps  vowed to do everything in his power to prevent further hardship as drastic aid cuts threaten food supplies and other critical relief efforts.

UN aid efforts are in jeopardy following funding reductions announced by major donors, including the United States and several European nations.

Mr. Guterres described Cox’s Bazar as “ground zero” for the impact of these cuts, warning of a looming humanitarian disaster if immediate action is not taken.

“We are at risk of cutting the food rations in this camp,” he said.

“That would be an unmitigated disaster that we cannot accept because people will suffer and even people will die.”

Mr. Guterres emphasised that his visit, which took place during the holy month of Ramadan, was a mission of solidarity with the Rohingya refugees and the Bangladeshi people who generously host them.

“I am here to shine a global spotlight on the plight – but also the potential – of Rohingya refugees,” he said.

“The more than one million Rohingya refugees here are proud. They are resilient. And they need the world’s support.”

He praised the support offered by Bangladesh and local communities who have shared their land, forests, water and resources with the refugees, calling it nothing short of “enormous.”

Bangladesh is hosting over one million Rohingya refugees who fled violence in neighboring Myanmar. The largest exodus followed brutal attacks by Myanmar security forces in 2017, a series of events that the then UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein described as “textbook example of ethnic cleansing.”

UN Secretary-General met with Bangladesh Foreign Adviser

United Nations UN Secretary-General António Guterres meets with Bangladeshi Foreign Adviser, Touhid Hossain, in Dhaka. UN Secretary-General Guterres highlighted Bangladesh’s support to the United Nations and its mission, particularly in peacekeeping.

Bangladesh is one of the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping operations, with thousands of soldiers serving in some of the world’s most dangerous environments.

“I want to pay tribute to the sacrifices and dedication of Bangladeshi peacekeepers,” he said.

During his visit, the Secretary-General also met with top officials including Chief Adviser Yunus; Foreign Adviser Md. Towhid Hossain; and Khalilur Rahman, High Representative on Rohingya Issues. He also met with Bangladeshi youth representatives and members of the civil society.

While acknowledging Bangladesh’s accomplishments, the UN chief also stressed the urgency of continued support for the Rohingya refugees.

“By offering Rohingya refugees sanctuary, Bangladesh has demonstrated solidarity and human dignity, often at significant social, environmental and economic cost,” he said.

However, the situation remains dire, with significant cuts in international funding for humanitarian aid threatening to worsen the crisis.

Mr. Guterres warned the funding cuts could result in severe food aid shortages, a situation he described as “an unmitigated disaster”.

“People would suffer, and people would die,” he warned.

Alongside greater international support to sustain critical aid efforts, the Secretary-General underscored the need to finding a lasting solution to the Rohingya crisis, in particular the safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable return to Myanmar.

However, the situation there continues to deteriorate.

“The escalation of violence and human rights violations across Myanmar, including in Rakhine state, are causing civilian casualties and driving displacement internally and across borders,” Mr. Guterres said.

He urged all parties in Myanmar to prioritise civilian protection, avoid further incitement of violence and pave the way for democracy to take root, creating conditions for the dignified return of the Rohingya.

Bangladesh is hosting over one million Rohingya refugees who fled violence in neighbouring Myanmar. The largest exodus followed brutal attacks by Myanmar security forces in 2017, a series of events that the then UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein described as “textbook example of ethnic cleansing.”

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 IN a statement on the UN website Tor Wennesland  said, The nightmare in Gaza is intensifying. Horrifying scenes are unfolding in the northern Strip amidst conflict, relentless Israeli strikes and an ever-worsening humanitarian crisis.

In Beit Lahia last night, dozens were reportedly killed in Israeli airstrikes. This follows weeks of intensified operations resulting in scores of civilian fatalities and near total lack of humanitarian aid reaching populations in the north.

Nowhere is safe in Gaza.

‘I condemn the continuing attacks on civilians’ Tor Wennesland said. This war must end, the hostages held by Hamas must be freed, the displacement of Palestinians must cease, and civilians must be protected wherever they are. Humanitarian aid must be delivered unimpeded Wennesland added.

The path ahead will require courage, political will and renewed dialogue. We owe it to the families suffering in Gaza and Israel. The war must stop now, statement said.

The Gaza Health Ministry said at least 87 people were killed and at least 40 wounded.

The Israeli military dismissed the Hamas-run ministry’s numbers as “exaggerated,” saying they “do not line up with the information available to the IDF, the precision munitions used, and the precise damage done.”

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“Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran’s heinous attack on Israel does not deserve to set foot on Israeli soil,” Katz said. He accused Guterres of being an anti-Israel UN chief who provides “support to terrorists,” such as Hamas, Hezbollah, Yemen’s Houthi rebels and Iran.

The announcement was made on Wednesday in response to what Katz described as Guterres’ failure to unequivocally condemn Iran’s attack on Israel and what he called his support for terrorist organizations.

The decision follows a series of statements from Guterres that, according to Katz, reflect a continued bias against Israel since the start of the conflict. Katz criticized the UN leader for failing to take a firm stance on Hamas’ atrocities on October 7, 2023, and for failing to push for resolutions designating the group as a terrorist organization.

“Guterres will be remembered as a stain on the history of the UN for generations to come,” the foreign minister added. “Israel will continue to defend its citizens and uphold its national dignity, with or without António Guterres.”

Guterres has not responded yet to the announcement.

Prior to Iran’s attack on Tuesday, Guterres called for an immediate ceasefire, according to a statement from his spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric. The statement warned that an “all-out war must be avoided in Lebanon at all costs.”

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While some also acknowledged Hamas militants launched the war by killing some 1,200 people in Israel on Oct. 7, the general sense was that Israel has gone too far in its retaliation.

The tough language reflected global frustration over the unwillingness of the parties involved to strike a cease-fire. It also spoke to international despair over the helplessness of institutions such as the United Nations to bring about peace. A number of world leaders sharply condemned Israel and much of the anger was also directed at the United States though the world leaders rarely directly mentioned America.

The rhetoric was especially intense when directed at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. At least one used a Hitler comparison.

 “What began as a terrorist action … has become a collective punishment for the entire Palestinian people,” said Brazil President Lula da Silva, the first speaker at the General Assembly. “The right of defense has become a right of vengeance.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan compared the Israeli leader to Adolf Hitler, even suggesting other countries should unite to stop the Israelis by force if needed. Others, such as Colombia’s Gustavo Petro, called the violence genocide against Palestinians. Terms like war crimes and settler colonialism were thrown around liberally.

 “The presidents of the countries of human destruction are laughing in these very corridors,” said Gustavo Petro President of Colombian, aiming his ire at the global 1 percent. “When Gaza dies, humanity will die … The people of God were not the people of Israel, it would seem. It’s not the people of the USA.”

President Petro  said, “the end has begun. A year ago I called for a peace conference for Palestine on this very spot, before the first bomb had even gone off. Today we have 20,000 children murdered under the bombs while the presidents of human destruction countries are laughing in these corridors, assisted by the communication power of the global media, which today are owned by big capital, rearrange the world without democracy, without freedom.”

The democratic project of mankind is dying with life, whiles the racists, the supremacists, those who stupidly believe that the Aryans are the superior race, are preparing to dominate the world by writing the terror of bombs on the peoples. The control of humanity on the basis of barbarism is under construction and its demonstration is Gaza, Lebanon. When Gaza dies, all humanity will die he said.

“It turns out that God’s people were not the people of Israel, not the people of the United States of America, but God’s people are all of humanity and the children of Gaza, those were humanity, God’s chosen people. They are killing God’s chosen people, the children of humanity” Petro said.

There is a reason for this Armageddon of the contemporary world. There is logic to the senselessness of governments that applaud genocide and do not take quick action to shift economies towards decarbonization. The logic is not in the political world or at this lectern where all the presidents speak. The logic is outside, and it is called social inequality, Colombia’s  President added.

The US President Joe Biden  called for a two-state solution, highlighting a U.S.-backed proposal for a cease-fire and hostage exchange. He called on all parties to finalize the terms, “ease the suffering in Gaza and end this war,” he said to applause from the General Assembly floor.

President Biden argued that averting a regional war in the Middle East is still possible, even as Israeli rockets continued to streak the sky over Lebanon. The Iran-backed Hezbollah militia has also retched up its attack.

“Full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest,” Biden said, urging the two sides to cease hostilities. “Diplomatic solution is still possible. It’s the only path.”

The president also urged that “now was the time” to finally achieve a cease-fire deal and took each side to task for delays. While he underscored Israel’s right to defend itself after the Oct. 7 terror attacks, he said that Palestinian lives “must be protected.”

Jordan’s King Abdullah II sharply highlighted how Israel has attacked U.N. shelters and schools in Gaza, while U.N. aid trucks have been unable to reach starving Palestinians.

“The unprecedented scale of terror unleashed on Gaza since [Oct. 7] is beyond any justification,” he said. “We will never accept the forced displacement of Palestinians, which is a war crime.”

Israel is no stranger to criticism at the United Nations. Its representatives have spent much of the past year attacking the institution as Israel and the U.S. appear increasingly isolated on the world stage.

T“Many people came to the United Nations hoping that the backdrop would be one of attempts to de-escalate,” Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris told reporters Tuesday. “Instead, we’re seeing, on an enormous, hourly basis, an escalation of the conflict.”

The majority of member states is clearly frustrated with the increasing violence in the region, especially as it has spread to Lebanon and threatens to lead to an all-out war. The frustration even came from some nations that usually avoid the topic, including Latin American and African states. Arab and Middle Eastern leaders have been critical of Israel among Tuesday’s speakers.

“It will not be the last one,” Israel’s ambassador to the U.N., Danny Danon, told reporters Tuesday, when asked. Describing Israel as “a peaceful nation,” he said the country would prefer a diplomatic solution.

If Donald Trump returns to power in November election, he has suggested he would embolden Netanyahu to finish the war while also cutting aid to Ukraine and potentially abandoning NATO.

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The “Summit of the Future” held during the 79th session at United Nations General Assembly to accelerate progress towards the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Summit of the Future the first of its kind, negotiated the “Pact of the Future” an action-oriented document aimed to bolster global cooperation and adapt to current challenges effectively for the benefit of all and for future generations.

The highly anticipated “Summit of the Future” underscores the urgent need for enhanced international cooperation to address pressing challenges such as climate change, poverty and inequality, while also tackling the impacts of ongoing conflicts and global health crises.

The General Assembly approved the summit’s main outcome document — a 42-page “Pact of the Future” — on Sunday morning with a bang of the gavel by Assembly President Philémon Yang signifying consensus, after the body voted 143-7 with 15 abstentions against considering Russian-proposed amendments to significantly water it down.

The pact is a blueprint to address global challenges from conflicts and climate change to artificial intelligence and reforming the U.N. and global institutions. Its impact will depend on its implementation by the assembly’s 193 member nations.

The Pact itself covers five key pillars: Financing for Development and the SDGs, Peace and Security, Science and Technology, Youth and Future Generations, and Transforming Global Governance. This includes a range of reforms and recommendations that cover the major topics and tests of our time from rethinking the UN Security Council and the UN Human Rights Council to overhauling our international financial system. The Pact lays out human rights–based principles and parameters for global cooperation across new frontiers in both cyber and outer space. The Pact also addresses more resources to achieve the SDGs and address the global debt crisis, which has long held back developing economies.

The two-day summit started Sunday; two days before the high-level meeting of world leaders begins at the U.N. headquarter in New York City.

Heads of State and Government are currently gathered in New York UN Headquarters to address the critical challenges and gaps in global governance exposed by recent global shocks.

During the 79th UNGA, the High-Level Meeting on Sea-Level Rise will convene global leaders, experts, and stakeholders to address the urgent and escalating threat of rising sea levels. This meeting focuses on building common understanding, mobilizing political leadership, and promoting multispectral and multi-stakeholder collaboration and international cooperation towards the objective of “addressing the threats posed by sea-level rise”.

The summit of the future, the most wide-ranging international agreement in many years covering entirely new areas as well as issues on which agreement has not been possible in decades; the Pact aims above all to ensure that international institutions can deliver in the face of a world that has changed dramatically since they were created.

 “The Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact, and the Declaration on Future Generations open the door to new opportunities and untapped possibilities,” said the Secretary-General during his remarks at the opening of the Summit of the Future.

The President of the General Assembly noted that the Pact would “lay the foundations for a sustainable, just, and peaceful global order – for all peoples and nations.”

The Pact covers a broad range of issues including peace and security, sustainable development, climate change, digital cooperation, human rights, gender, youth and future generations, and the transformation of global governance. Key deliverables in the Pact include:

In the area of peace and security

The most progressive and concrete commitment to Security Council reform since the 1960s, with plans to improve the effectiveness and representativeness of the Council, including by redressing the historical under-representation of Africa as a priority.

The first multilateral recommitment to nuclear disarmament in more than a decade with a clear commitment to the goal of totally eliminating nuclear weapons.

Agreement to strengthen international frameworks that govern outer space, including a clear commitment to prevent an arms race in outer space and the need to ensure all countries can benefit from the safe and sustainable exploration of outer space.

Steps to avoid the weaponization and misuse of new technologies, such as lethal autonomous weapons and affirmation that the laws of war should apply to many of these new technologies.

On sustainable development, climate and financing for development.

The entire Pact is designed to turbo-charge implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The most detailed agreement ever at the United Nations on the need for reform of the international financial architecture so that it better represents and serves developing countries, including:

Giving developing countries a greater say in how decisions are taken at international financial institutions;

Mobilizing more financing from multilateral development banks to help developing countries meet their development needs;

Reviewing the sovereign debt architecture to ensure that developing countries can borrow sustainably to invest in their future, with the IMF, UN, G20 and other key players working together;

Strengthening the global financial safety net to protect the poorest in the event of financial and economic shocks, through concrete actions by the IMF and Member States;

and accelerating measures to address the challenge of climate change, including through delivering more finance to help countries adapt to climate change and invest in renewable energy.

Improving how we measure human progress, going beyond GDP to capturing human and planetary wellbeing and sustainability.

A commitment to consider ways to introduce a global minimum level of taxation on high-net-worth individuals.

On climate change, confirmation of the need to keep global temperature rise to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels and to transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

On digital cooperation

The Global Digital Compact, annexed to the Pact, is the first comprehensive global framework for digital cooperation and AI governance.

At the heart of the Compact is a commitment to design, use and govern technology for the benefit of all. This includes commitments by world leaders to:

Connect all people, schools and hospitals to the Internet;

Anchor digital cooperation in human rights and international law;

Make the online space safe for all, especially children, through actions by governments, tech companies and social media;

Govern Artificial Intelligence, with a roadmap that includes an International Scientific Panel and a Global Policy Dialogue on AI;

Make data more open and accessible, with agreements on open-source data, models, and standards;

This is also the first global commitment to data governance, placing it on the UN agenda and requiring countries to take concrete actions by 2030.

Youth and future generations

The first ever Declaration on Future Generations, with concrete steps to take account of future generations in our decision-making, including a possible envoy for future generations.

A commitment to more meaningful opportunities for young people to participate in the decisions that shape their lives, especially at the global level.

Human rights and gender

A strengthening of our work on human rights, gender equality and the empowerment of women.

A clear call on the need to protect human rights defenders.

Strong signals on the importance of engagement of other stakeholders in global governance, including local and regional governments, civil society, private sector and others.

There are provisions across the Pact and its annexes for follow-up action, to ensure that the commitments made are implemented.

The Summit brought together over 4000 individuals from Heads of State and Government, observers, IGOs, UN System, civil society and non-governmental organizations. In a broader push to increase the engagement of diverse actors. attracted more than 7,000 individuals representing all segments of society.

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