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March 2, 2026 Peace and security

On the third day of escalating violence in the Middle East, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi called for a return to diplomacy, citing "growing threats to nuclear security." He addressed the IAEA Board of Governors in Vienna.

Nuclear danger

According to Grossi, there are currently no signs of damage to any of Iran's nuclear facilities, including the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant and the Tehran Research Reactor. Since the bombings began, radiation levels in countries bordering Iran have remained within normal limits.

Nevertheless, Grossi warned of a growing nuclear threat, as Iran and many other countries in the region that have been subjected to military attacks have nuclear facilities. He noted that the UAE operates four nuclear reactors, while Jordan and Syria operate nuclear research reactors. Other countries in the region also utilize nuclear technology in one form or another.

Grossi called for "maximum restraint in all military operations."

Regional stability is under attack

Meanwhile, at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Gulf states hit by Iran's retaliatory ballistic missile and drone strikes condemned attacks on their sovereignty and called on Tehran to stop any "hostile escalation" that could threaten regional stability.

So far, missile strikes have been reported in Bahrain, Jordan, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as in Israel, whose armed forces responded to Hezbollah strikes from Lebanon on Monday.

According to incoming reports, 550 civilians have died in Iran since Saturday. On Sunday, the Gandhi Hospital in Tehran was damaged, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported.

“Healthcare facilities are protected by international humanitarian law,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote on his X platform page.

© UN OHCHR

The UN Human Rights Council meeting room.

Speaking at the UN Human Rights Council, UAE representative Shahad Matar said that Iranian attacks in her country have killed three civilians and injured 58 others since Saturday, February 28.

"This blatant and cowardly attack is a brutal… flagrant violation of our sovereignty, international law and the UN Charter," Shahad said.

Kuwaiti representative Nasser Abdullah H.M. Alhaene condemned the Iranian missile strikes.

Attack on a school in Minab

In response, Iran told the UN Human Rights Council that the country continues to be subjected to "indiscriminate and aggressive" attacks. The day before, Tehran confirmed the death of its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

"In recent days, schools have been bombed, hospitals have been indiscriminately attacked, civilian leaders, including the spiritual and religious supreme leader, have been killed, and the headquarters of the Iranian Red Crescent Society and many other non-military buildings have been destroyed," Iranian spokesman Ali Bahreini said.

He said that, according to the latest data, more than 160 students were killed and more than 100 were injured after Saturday's attack on a girls' school in the city of Minab in southern Iran.

UNESCO issued a statement on Sunday stressing that educational institutions are protected by international humanitarian law and that "attacks on educational institutions endanger students and teachers and undermine the right to education."

Threat of further escalation

"The ongoing illegal military aggression against Iran demonstrates the dominance of brute force over human rights principles," Bahraini told the Human Rights Council.

Earlier on Monday, Iran also sent a letter to member states of the UN Conference on Disarmament in Geneva and declared its right to self-defense "as long as the aggression continues."

Due to the "war of aggression," all US military "bases, facilities and assets" are now "legitimate targets," Iran's Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva said.

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March 2, 2026 Peace and security

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is closely monitoring the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and urges all shipping companies to exercise extreme caution. Where possible, vessels should avoid transiting the affected region until conditions improve, according to a statement from IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez.

The Strait of Hormuz, located between Oman and Iran, connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean. It remains a strategically important artery of global trade: according to media reports, more than 20 percent of global oil and gas supplies pass through it. The strait is considered international in accordance with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which enshrines the right of free transit for ships. Iran has signed but not ratified the document.

The Strait of Hormuz was in the center escalation of military activity Following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran last weekend and Iran's retaliatory actions, attacks on commercial vessels were reported.

Freedom and safety of navigation

"I am deeply concerned by reports of at least one fatality and several injuries to seafarers in attacks on merchant vessels. No attack on innocent seafarers or civilian vessels can be justified. These crews are simply doing their jobs and must be protected from the consequences of broader geopolitical tensions," Dominguez said.

According to him, freedom of navigation is a fundamental principle of international maritime law and must be respected by all parties.

The head of the IMO also called for continued vigilance against misinformation and for relying only on verified, authoritative sources when making navigational decisions.

He expressed support for the affected sailors and their families, stressing that the protection of civilian crews remains a priority.

"IMO will continue to work closely with Member States and partners to support safe shipping and uphold the principle that civilian seafarers must not be harmed under any circumstances," he added.

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He recalled that Article 2 of the UN Charter clearly states: “All Members of the United Nations shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.”

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February 28, 2026 Peace and security

UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the military escalation in the Middle East, including the use of force by the United States and Israel against Iran, as well as Iran's subsequent retaliatory actions in the region. The UN press service issued this statement today.

According to Guterres, what is happening undermines international peace and security.

The Secretary-General recalled that all states are obliged to comply with international law, including the UN Charter, which expressly prohibits “the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.”

He called for an immediate end to hostilities, warning that otherwise there was a risk of a wider regional conflict with grave consequences for civilians and stability.

The UN chief also urged all parties to immediately return to the negotiating table.

“There is no viable alternative to the peaceful settlement of international disputes in full compliance with international law and the UN Charter,” he stressed.

The conflict will lead to "destruction on an unimaginable scale"

UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock, in turn, recalled the need to respect the UN Charter.

"The UN Charter is clear: all Member States must settle international disputes by peaceful means in a manner that does not endanger international peace, security and justice," she said.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said bombs and missiles are not a way to resolve differences, but "only lead to death, destruction, and human suffering." Civilians, he noted, "ultimately pay the highest price."

Turk called on all parties to return to negotiations to avoid a wider conflict that would mean further civilian casualties and "destruction of a potentially unimaginable scale not only in Iran but throughout the Middle East region."

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was deeply concerned about the situation and called on leaders to "choose the difficult path of dialogue rather than the senseless path of destruction."

Emergency meeting of the Security Council

French President Emmanuel Macron has convened an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the situation. The meeting is scheduled for 4:00 PM New York time.

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February 27, 2026 UN

On Friday, the UN General Assembly was briefed on the latest achievements of the UN80 initiative, which aims to strengthen the Organization's effectiveness and readiness for future challenges. This included progress in developing the New Humanitarian Compact, as well as reforms in training and research.

Since the initiative's launch in March 2025, teams led by the Secretary-General Antonio Guterresand are working on a broad package of proposals covering peacekeeping, development, human rights and humanitarian action, as well as general areas such as data, technology and services.

This includes efforts to improve the efficiency of the UN Secretariat, strengthen the processes for developing, implementing and reviewing mandates (the decisions of Member States that shape the work of the UN), and find ways to enhance coherence and teamwork across the system.

The February 27 briefing focused on proposals to streamline humanitarian operations and the possible merger of several UN agencies involved in training and research.

Under-Secretary-General for Policy Guy Ryder opened the meeting with an overview of the UN80 initiative's progress over the past 12 months, noting that the scale and complexity of the reforms make them difficult to understand. He promised to provide clearer information and a fuller understanding of the process in an upcoming report.

Eliminating duplication of humanitarian efforts

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher presented the New Humanitarian Compact, a process to reform humanitarian operations, which are under unprecedented pressure.

He was joined by the heads of key UN humanitarian agencies – UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell, International Organization for Migration (IOM) Director-General Amy Pope, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Saleh, and World Food Programme Assistant Executive Director Matthew Hollingworth. They all spoke about how their organizations are strengthening collaboration and "working as one."

Catherine Russell noted that the system in which humanitarian agencies operate in parallel – with their own warehouses, transport, contracts and logistics networks – is no longer sustainable.

"When supply chains are integrated, children receive aid more quickly. When food distribution systems are coordinated, fewer children suffer from malnutrition. When diplomatic efforts are coordinated, humanitarian access improves," she noted.

Fletcher, praising the five agencies' efforts to coordinate their work, noted that, with needs growing faster than available resources, the coordinated efforts are already producing tangible results on the ground.

"Reform is absolutely essential," he said. "Resetting means more clearly defining priorities to save lives, radically improving the effectiveness of our work, and defending our values and principles, which are under constant pressure."

Reform of the fragmented system of training and research

Training and research are important functions of the UN system, but they currently remain fragmented, with duplicative functions, high costs and financial risks.

Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, Rector of the United Nations University, and Michelle Giles-McDonough, Executive Director of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), have proposed reforms that would consolidate separate structures and create a coordinating mechanism to use resources more effectively.

Marvala also presented an idea for an AI-powered platform to counter disinformation and strengthen the link between research and education.

"In a complex organization like the UN, expertise and operational experience are often scattered across different structures," he noted. "Such a platform could connect the practical experience and needs of Member States with scientific priorities, translating research findings into applied teaching tools."

Next steps towards a 'fit for purpose' Organization

An updated update on the UN80 initiative is planned for civil society at the end of March. A high-level event organized as part of the High-Level Political Forum will also take place in July.

The Secretary-General intends to demonstrate to Heads of State and Government during the General Assembly High-Level Week in September that the UN system is capable of effectively delivering on its responsibilities and developing.

At stake, says Guy Ryder, is "the ability of the UN system to meet the challenges of today and the uncertainties of tomorrow."

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February 27, 2026 Refugees and migrants

Presenting the annual report on the implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration to the General Assembly, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on states to "choose cooperation over chaos."

Politicization of migration

Guterres sharply criticized the politicization of migration, stating that in many countries, migrants are used "to score political points – with devastating human consequences." He emphasized that migrants are increasingly dehumanized and deprived of basic rights, despite their significant contributions to society.

According to the UN chief, restricting legal routes only pushes people into the hands of criminal networks: "When routes are closed, migrants don't disappear. They are pushed into exploitation and into the hands of smugglers."

The Secretary-General recalled that thousands of people die or go missing every year due to the lack of safe alternatives. "Migration is not a crisis," he emphasized. "The crisis is our inability to manage it together."

Migration is not a crisis. The crisis is our inability to manage it together.

The report emphasizes that countries have made progress, from expanding legal channels to improving search and rescue systems. However, Guterres said these efforts "fall far short of what today's realities require."

He recalled that migration is a global phenomenon that cannot be addressed alone, especially in the context of climate change, demographic shifts, and economic transformation.

Two key directions

Guterres highlighted two key areas for further action: expanding and simplifying regular migration routes, as well as investing in education and job creation in countries of origin. The Secretary-General called for intensifying the fight against human trafficking, standardizing ethical recruitment, ending the practice of detaining children on migration grounds, taking climate factors into account when planning migration policies, reducing the cost of remittances, and strengthening social cohesion.

The UN chief placed particular emphasis on the need to counter "toxic narratives." He said the world must "choose cooperation over chaos and dignity over discrimination."

The Secretary-General expressed hope that the upcoming International Migration Review Forum would be a moment to move from discussions to concrete action.

"Migration is a story of courage, resilience, and mutual benefit. Our task is to ensure it never becomes a story of death and despair," Guterres emphasized, calling for the Global Compact to be made a reality "in every region, along every route, for every migrant."

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February 27, 2026 UN

The top news of the day at the UN and around the world: the Secretary-General calls on Afghanistan and Pakistan to cease hostilities, the crisis in South Sudan worsens, the UN welcomes indirect talks between the US and Iran, and an Israeli court postpones the closure of international NGOs.

Escalation between Afghanistan and Pakistan

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres deeply concerned escalation of violence between Afghanistan and PakistanHe calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a diplomatic resolution of differences. Meanwhile, humanitarian agencies are alarmed by the consequences of the attacks, including the incident at the transit and reception center at the Torkham border crossing in eastern Afghanistan. The UN continues to call on all parties to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law, in particular to ensure the protection of civilians and infrastructure.

Conflict in South Sudan

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights warned about the rapidly deteriorating situation in South SudanVolker Türk called the events in this country "one of the world's forgotten crises." Over the past three months, government and opposition forces, as well as allied armed groups, have attacked residential areas in seven states. In northern Jonglei State alone, more than 280,000 people were forced to flee after homes, schools, and medical facilities came under fire.

US-Iran negotiations

The UN Secretary-General welcomes the continuation of proximity talks between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, mediated by Oman. António Guterres calls on the parties to continue working resolutely and in good faith to reach a lasting agreement. He also emphasizes that full and comprehensive verification by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will be essential for a successful resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue.

Israel bans humanitarian NGOs

According to media reports, the Israeli Supreme Court today temporarily blocked the implementation of a government decision banning the activities of more than 35 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the Palestinian territories. Responding to journalists' questions, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric emphasized the Organization's need for the continued work of its international NGO partners. This will allow the UN to fulfill its mandate to assist the population.

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February 27, 2026 Peace and security

Amid reports that major Afghan cities have been bombed by Pakistani forces in an escalation of conflict between the two countries, the United Nations has expressed concern about the plight of civilians already living in dire conditions under Taliban rule.

The UN Secretary-General said he was deeply concerned about the escalation. Antonio Guterres called for an immediate end to hostilities and repeated his call for the two countries to "settle any differences diplomatically."

Fear of the future

A call for dialogue between Kabul and Islamabad was also made by the UN Human Rights Council's independent expert on Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, who noted that growing tensions between the two countries are exacerbating the difficulties for Afghans forced to return home from neighboring countries, including Pakistan.

"I was recently in Pakistan and spoke with Afghans who are afraid of their future," he said. "They believe that returning to Afghanistan means not only a life of poverty, but also, for certain groups—human rights activists, journalists, former security forces—a real risk of violent reprisals. We've seen an increase in such cases in recent months."

In recent years, Afghanistan has faced a massive return of its citizens – an estimated 2.7 million people in 2025 alone – from neighboring countries.

Pakistan's defense minister declared Friday that his country is in a state of "open war" with Afghanistan. This follows months of sporadic border clashes, despite a ceasefire declared in October.

Humanitarian difficulties

Bennett said a sharp escalation would only worsen the suffering of Afghans already facing catastrophic humanitarian conditions since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021.

Healthcare is just one of the sectors severely affected by the harsh policies of the de facto authorities, whose decrees, ostensibly aimed at “strengthening religious virtue,” are widely condemned outside the country as a form of gender apartheid.

"In many parts of the country, health care is segregated by gender: women are treated by women, and men by men," Bennett said. "Across the country, we're seeing a decline in the number of health workers—not just doctors, but midwives, nurses, and all medical personnel."

There is evidence that healthcare restrictions are not being applied equally strictly everywhere, but according to the expert, "the problem is not only with treatment, but also with access to it – there are serious restrictions on freedom of movement."

Bennett recalled that Afghanistan's healthcare system was fragile even before the Taliban came to power – after decades of war, poverty, and chronic underfunding. Now, he emphasized, there is a risk of "a full-scale health catastrophe, especially for women and girls."

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