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February 6, 2026 Peace and security

UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday welcomed the resumption of talks between Iran and the United States. The countries returned to dialogue after weeks of tensions over Iran's nuclear program and threats of a possible military strike by the United States.

According to media reports, indirect talks took place in Oman between delegations led by US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

This marked the first meeting between the two sides since June of last year, when the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. The talks are taking place as the United States amasses forces off the coast of Iran, including a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.

Reducing regional tensions

UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said the Secretary-General expressed hope that the talks "will help reduce regional tensions and prevent a wider crisis."

Guterres also expressed gratitude to countries in the region for their efforts to facilitate the talks, in particular Oman for providing the venue.

"The Secretary-General consistently advocates for de-escalation and peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with the UN Charter. All issues can and should be resolved through peaceful dialogue," Haq stated.

The need to investigate the deaths of protesters

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Friday called for an investigation into reports of deaths and other violations during recent protests in Iran.

Demonstrations began in late December after shopkeepers in the capital, Tehran, took to the streets to express their discontent over the collapse of the national currency, soaring inflation and deteriorating living conditions.

Anti-government protests eventually spread across the country. Authorities suppressed them with brutal methods. The country's leadership released a list of the names of more than 2,900 people confirmed dead.

However, as OHCHR representative Tamin Al-Khitan told reporters in Geneva, according to data from other sources, the death toll is significantly higher.

Al-Khitan said it was extremely difficult to verify information for a number of reasons, including communications and internet outages.

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February 6, 2026 UN

On Friday, the 25th Winter Olympic Games officially opened in Italy, taking place in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. UN Secretary-General António Guterres and General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock attended the opening ceremony.

The UN chief addressed the Games' participants in a video message, emphasizing that the Olympic and Paralympic Games remain a symbol of human potential, teamwork, fair play, and mutual respect.

“Thanks to your dedication and perseverance, we see what a united world can be – and what humanity can achieve when we strive for better,” he said.

The Secretary General also recalled the significance of the Olympic Truce, emphasizing that its essence is simple: “the only rivalry between states should take place in the sporting arena, not on the battlefield.”

He called on all parties to armed conflicts to respect this tradition, the importance of which has recently been reaffirmed by the UN General Assembly.

“Let us strive together – for gold, but above all for peace,” Guterres emphasized.

Concluding his speech, the Secretary General wished the participants good luck: “Thank you and good luck.”

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February 6, 2026 UN

The top news of the day at the UN and around the world: the head of the UN welcomed the resumption of dialogue between the US and Iran, the UN commented on the spraying of toxic substances by Israeli forces near the demarcation line between Israel and Lebanon, the Secretary-General condemned the terrorist attack in Islamabad, 4.5 million girls could become victims of genital mutilation this year.

US-Iran negotiations

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres He welcomed the resumption of talks between Iran and the United States and expressed hope that they will help reduce regional tensions and prevent a wider crisis. The UN chief expressed gratitude to the countries of the region for their efforts to facilitate these talks, particularly to Oman for providing the forum. All problems can and must be resolved through peaceful dialogue, the UN chief said in a statement.

The Blue Line between Lebanon and Israel

Commenting on reports that Israeli forces sprayed a highly toxic herbicide over areas north of the Blue Line separating Lebanon and Israel on February 1, the UN stated that this poses a threat to civilians living there. Alexandra Vellucci, a spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR), said at a briefing in Geneva that the use of herbicides could also negatively impact local agricultural lands and pose a serious obstacle to the return of the population. She noted that any activity by Israeli forces in areas north of the Blue Line constitutes a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

Terrorist attack in Pakistan

The Secretary-General condemned in the strongest terms today's terrorist attack on a mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan. According to media reports, a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device, killing more than 30 people and injuring approximately 170. The UN chief stated that attacks on civilians and places of worship are unacceptable. He called for those responsible to be held accountable and expressed solidarity with the government and people of Pakistan in their efforts to combat terrorism and extremism.

Female circumcision

230 million women and girls worldwide have undergone female genital mutilation, or FGM. By 2026, 4.5 million girls could be affected by this procedure, according to the UN, which announced this on the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, celebrated on February 6. Efforts to eliminate FGM have begun to yield results over the past three decades, but progress is slow. The UN's goal of completely ending the practice by 2030 will not be achieved without greater efforts.

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February 6, 2026 Economic development

Ten years ago, many experts predicted that driverless cars would become commonplace on the roads by 2020. However, despite impressive technological progress, the task proved more challenging than expected, requiring extensive research and development, as well as the creation of a clear and robust regulatory framework.

The draft Global Regulation on Automated Driving Systems (ADS) was presented after a decade of technological development and two years of intensive consultations. It will enable the introduction of fully autonomous vehicles, requiring no driver control, onto the roads.

The regulation, approved by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Working Party on Automated, Autonomous and Connected Vehicles at its meeting from 19 to 23 January, establishes uniform safety requirements and a unified methodology for testing vehicles equipped with ACB.

"The completion of the project demonstrates the global significance of regulatory platforms developed at the UN. Harmonized rules developed at the EEC are essential to prevent fragmentation of national approaches, maximize savings, and support safety and innovation in the automotive industry," said UNECE Executive Secretary Tatiana Molchan.

"Safety, innovation, and public trust can thrive simultaneously. By working globally, we provide clarity for the industry and confidence for consumers," noted Working Group Chair Richard Damm.

Next steps

The draft regulation builds on the 2022 Framework Document on Automated Vehicles, which sets out key safety and security principles and recommendations on requirements, assessments and test methods for automated vehicles, adopted in June 2024.

The document will be submitted to the UNECE World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations. It is expected to be adopted at its next session, scheduled for 23–26 June 2026. If approved by the World Forum, the regulation will enter into force immediately.

The Path to Global Implementation

In late January, the U.S. Department of Transportation released a formal list of questions on the draft regulation to help shape its official position for the June vote.

China also announced it would develop a national standard based on the global regulation's structure and begin collecting comments. Japan expressed satisfaction with the process and welcomed the outcome. Several European countries also supported the creation of a global regulation.

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