Attacks with short-range drones killed at least 395 civilians and injured 2,635 between February 2022 – the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine – and April 2025, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission (HRMMU) reported on Thursday.
Attacks with short-range drones killed at least 395 civilians and injured 2,635 between February 2022 – the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine – and April 2025, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission (HRMMU) reported on Thursday.
Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are increasingly being subjected to forced displacement and land seizures, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, reported on Thursday.
The UN is monitoring the situation in Kenya in the wake of deadly antigovernment protests on Wednesday.
It wasn’t an average Thursday morning in Manhattan. In the early hours, UN diplomats (and UN News) hit the streets in their sneakers – from Times Square to East River – following a route that traced the shape of “UN@80”.
The conflict-impacted people of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) urgently need much more international assistance than they are getting today, the UN’s top aid official said on Thursday.
Deadly hostilities continued along the front-line regions of Ukraine on Wednesday, displacing civilians and damaging civilian infrastructure, the UN has reported.
As the Central African Republic (CAR) prepares for upcoming elections, the country continues to grapple with a fragile security and humanitarian context, the UN Security Council heard on Thursday.
When Sila, a young woman from Idlib in Syria, was three-years-old, she woke up to missiles falling around her, forcing her and her family to flee their home.
The UN Secretary-General has warned that the world today is failing to protect civilians from mass atrocity crimes, calling for a renewed global commitment to the Responsibility to Protect – a principle adopted two decades ago that remains, in his words, “a moral imperative” and “an unfulfilled promise.”
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Wednesday that his “number one priority” is for its inspectors to return to Iran’s nuclear sites to evaluate damage caused by recent bombing and to verify stockpiles of highly enriched uranium.
Dozens of civilians – including children and school staff – were killed or wounded in Russian missile attacks on Ukrainian cities this week, in what UN human rights monitors described as a “foreseeable” tragedy caused by strikes on populated areas.
The United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU) and the Climate Security...
Madame President,
Thank you for the opportunity to brief the Council on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and the implementation of resolution 2231 (2015).
As the Secretary-General noted in his latest report, with less than four months left until the termination of its provisions, the objectives of resolution 2231 (2015), and those of the JCPOA, have yet to be fully realized. This is regrettable.
The JCPOA was adopted in 2015 to ensure that the Islamic Republic of Iran’s nuclear program would be exclusively peaceful. It included sanctions relief, nuclear program restrictions and monitoring and verification.
The JCPOA has faced many challenges since its inception, including the withdrawal of the United States from the agreement in 2018 and Iran’s withdrawal from some of its commitments as outlined in the Plan.
Still, over the last few months, JCPOA participants increased their efforts to identify a way forward for full implementation of the plan. In addition, Iran and the United States engaged in five rounds of bilateral talks, facilitated by Oman.
Regrettably, neither of these initiatives produced a way forward to ensuring the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program.
The military escalation between Israel and Iran since 13 June and United States air strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities on 21 June complicated prospects for achieving full implementation of Resolution 2231 (2015).
Iran’s strikes yesterday on a base in Qatar, an action which the Secretary-General condemned, further exacerbated insecurity in an already tense region.
Madame President,
Earlier today the Secretary-General welcomed the announcement by the United States, in coordination with Qatar, of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran and urged them to respect it fully.
This is a significant achievement that potentially pulls Iran, Israel and the region back from the brink.
The people of Iran and Israel have already suffered too much.
According to the Iranian Ministry of Health, since the start of the conflict at least 606 people have been killed, with 107 killed in the past 24 hours, and 5,332 injured. According to Israeli authorities, 28 people were killed and 1,472 were injured during the conflict.
Madam President,
In its quarterly report of 31 May 2025, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) observed that the significantly increased production and accumulation of highly enriched uranium by the Islamic Republic of Iran was of serious concern.
The IAEA reiterated that its verification and monitoring activities related to the JCPOA have been “seriously affected by the cessation of implementation by Iran of its nuclear-related commitments” under the Plan.
The Agency also again noted that it had lost its continuity of knowledge on many aspects of Iran’s nuclear programme, as it had not been able to perform verification and monitoring activities in the Islamic Republic of Iran for more than four years.
In addition, the IAEA noted it was unable to verify the total stockpile of enriched uranium in the country and had not done so since February 2021.
During the reporting period, the Secretary-General received several communications from JCPOA participants.
On 17 March, the Permanent Representatives of China, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Russian Federation shared a joint statement adopted at their meeting of 14 March in Beijing in which they stressed the importance of resolution 2231 (2015), including its timeframes.
In a separate letter received the same day, the Permanent Representative of China shared a proposal for the settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue, highlighting the JCPOA as the basis for a new consensus and cooperation through dialogue and a step-by-step and reciprocal approach.
In letters received on 9, 11 and 12 June, the Permanent Representatives of France, Germany, the United Kingdom the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Russian Federation shared their different views regarding the causes of the impasse in the implementation of Resolution 2231 (2015).
Despite their diverging outlooks, all five Member States reiterated the importance of negotiations and reaffirmed their commitment to finding a diplomatic solution.
Madame President,
I will now turn to the restrictive measures set out in annex B to resolution 2231 (2015). The only measures that remain in effect pertain to nuclear activities and transfers. Those measures will remain in place until 18 October 2025, unless decided otherwise by the Council.
The Secretariat received no allegations of violations of these provisions during the reporting period.
Moreover, no new proposals have been submitted in the procurement channel in the last six months of the reporting cycle.
The Security Council, however, received eight notifications regarding the nuclear-related restrictive measures for certain activities consistent with the JCPOA.
Madam President.
At the heart of this conflict is the nature of Iran’s nuclear programme.
Following the deadly clashes of the past 12 days, the ceasefire agreement is an opportunity to avoid a catastrophic escalation and achieve a peaceful resolution of the Iran nuclear issue.
Diplomacy, dialogue and verification remain the best option to ensure the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme and to bring about concrete economic benefits to the people of Iran.
As the Secretary-General said earlier today, the United Nations stands ready to support all efforts that advance peace, dialogue and stability in the region.
Finally, Madam President
The Secretariat will continue to support the implementation of resolution 2231 (2015) until the termination date of 18 October.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank His Excellency Samuel Žbogar of Slovenia for his leadership as Security Council Facilitator for the implementation of the resolution.
I also thank the Coordinator of the Procurement Working Group of the Joint Commissioner for our continued cooperation.
Thank you, Madame President.
The Security Council met Tuesday in New York over the future of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action put in place in 2015 to prevent Iran from weaponising its ambitious nuclear programme, which has been in effective limbo since the US withdrawal in 2018 and Iran’s rejection of parts of the deal. UN political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo described the US-brokered ceasefire overnight between Israel and Iran as a “significant achievement” and “an opportunity to avoid a catastrophic escalation and achieve a peaceful resolution of the Iran nuclear issue.” Follow our Meetings Coverage Section live coverage below and UN News app users can follow here.
Libya once again stands at a critical juncture in its political transition, after armed clashes erupted in Tripoli last month, further destabilising the country, the UN Special Representative for the country told the Security Council on Tuesday.
A fragile ceasefire brokered by the United States between Iran and Israel appears to be holding, marking a tentative halt to a dangerous regional escalation that included airstrikes, retaliatory missile attacks and mounting civilian casualties.
At least 410 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military while trying to fetch from controversial new aid hubs in Gaza – a likely war crime – the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said on Tuesday.
The UN Secretary-General on Tuesday welcomed the ceasefire announcement between Iran and Israel which was announced on social media overnight by US President Donald Trump.
Once a teenager without legal status or access to education, Madiha Ali Changezi is now speaking out as a living example of what refugee resettlement can achieve.
The United Nations has condemned a suicide bombing on Sunday at a Damascus church that killed at least 25 worshippers, including women and children during mass, as a “heinous crime”.
Afghanistan is already grappling with immense humanitarian and economic challenges and growing instability in the wider region following airstrikes by Israel and the United States in Iran is compounding the situation, the UN’s top envoy in the country told the Security Council on Monday.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres is “deeply alarmed” by the further escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, his Spokesperson said in a statement on Monday.
After surprise US bombing raids on Iranian uranium enrichment facilities over the weekend, the head of the UN-backed nuclear watchdog on Monday appealed for immediate access to the targeted sites to assess the damage that is likely “very significant”.
Madam President,
On the evening of 21 June, the President of the United States announced that the US military conducted strikes against the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear facilities in Iran.
Shortly thereafter, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran confirmed that the attacks around the nuclear sites had taken place. Iranian state media indicated the three sites had been evacuated and the highly enriched uranium stockpile transferred in advance. Iran has said there were no immediate signs of radioactive contamination at the three locations following the strikes.
The Crisis Management Bureau of Qom, where Fordow is located, stated that the perimeter of the Fordow nuclear site had been targeted. Iranian state media said only two tunnels—for entry and exit—were destroyed at Fordow. Preliminary open-source satellite imagery shows damage at various points at the facility.
I urge Iran to allow IAEA inspectors access to the sites to conduct damage assessments as soon as safety conditions allow. I also note that this Council will shortly hear from IAEA Director-General Grossi.
This latest development must be viewed with the utmost seriousness. It marks a dangerous escalation in a conflict that has already devastated many lives in both countries, in a region on the edge. It is a direct threat to international peace and security.
Madam President,
Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo told this Council only two days ago that we were teetering on the edge of a full-blown conflict. I fear we are now in that dangerous moment.
Meanwhile, the hostilities between Israel and Iran continue and are now in their 10th day.
Hours after the US strikes, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had launched some 40 missiles at Israel.
Israeli authorities reported that more than 85 people were injured in the barrage, and numerous structures in Tel Aviv and its southern suburbs sustained heavy damage, including many residential buildings and an elder care home.
Israel also said it had launched a series of strikes against military targets in Iran, including in Tehran, Tabriz and Yazd. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said 30 fighter jets had struck dozens of military targets across Iran. Iranian media reported several civilian fatalities, including children, and damage to homes and other civilian infrastructure. Earlier on 21 June, Israel attacked, for a second time since 13 June, the Isfahan nuclear complex, hitting six buildings.
According to Iran’s Ministry of Health, as of 21 June, 430 people have been killed and more than 3,500 others injured due to Israeli strikes across Iran. Most have been civilians.
According to Israeli authorities, 25 Israelis have been killed and 1,300 more have been injured since the beginning of exchanges with Iran.
Madam President,
The conflict risks engulfing the region in further instability and volatility. Some non-state armed groups aligned with Iran warned against US involvement. The Houthis in Yemen and some armed groups in Iraq vowed to attack if the US intervened in the conflict between Israel and Iran.
Iran’s parliament unanimously expressed support for measures to close the Strait of Hormuz – a vital maritime route for global energy transit. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council would need to take the final decision.
I recall the rights and obligations of all States under international law in relation to maritime navigation.
Madam President,
The Middle East cannot afford yet another violent conflict where civilians pay the price of military confrontations. And the world will also not be spared from the ramifications of this dangerous conflict.
I echo the Secretary-General’s call on Member States, and on the members of the Security Council, to de-escalate and to uphold their obligations under the UN Charter, notably the obligation to settle their international disputes by peaceful means and other rules of international law. All states must live up to their nuclear commitments.
All parties to the conflict must also comply with the relevant rules of international humanitarian law in the conduct of their military operations.
There is no military solution to this conflict. We need diplomacy, de-escalation and confidence-building is now.
Thank you, Madam President.
The top UN humanitarian official in the Occupied Palestinian Territory has issued a stark warning over the deepening crisis in Gaza, where civilians are being killed daily while trying to access food, water and medical care.
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres told an emergency meeting of the Security Council on Sunday that massive overnight strikes by the United States on Iran’s nuclear facilities only increase the risk of a wider war and “serious damage to the international order.”
The UN Secretary-General told the Security Council on Sunday that the bombing of Iran’s nuclear sites by the United States marks a “perilous turn”, warning that the region cannot endure yet another “cycle of destruction.” António Guterres said the must be an immediate ceasefire and returned to “serious, sustained negotiations.” We’ll have live updates from our Meetings Coverage team below and app users can follow here.
The UN Secretary-General has strongly condemned a deadly attack on peacekeepers serving with the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic, or CAR, which claimed the life of a Zambian peacekeeper and left another wounded.
Senior UN officials reiterated an appeal for urgent restraint on Saturday as conflict spiral between Israel and Iran, amid a wider regional crisis exacerbated by Israel’s war in Gaza and the worsening humanitarian situation facing Palestinian civilians.
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the United States’ bombing of three nuclear sites in Iran as a “dangerous escalation” on Saturday following eight days of deadly strikes and counter strikes between Tehran and Tel Aviv.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Madam President,
Since we last briefed this Council on developments in Ukraine three weeks ago, fighting has continued to intensify on the ground, enveloping new geographic areas and prompting further displacement of the civilian population.
We have witnessed unrelenting large-scale Russian arial attacks on Ukrainian cities and towns, resulting in a significant rise in civilian casualties.
On the night of 16-17 June, Russian drones and missiles hit seven districts of Kyiv, killing at least 28 civilians and injuring more than 130 others. This was one of the deadliest attacks on the capital in nearly a year.
According to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, rescue workers spent all night trying to rescue dozens of trapped residents from under a partially destroyed nine-storey residential building that had reportedly been hit by a Russian ballistic missile. Many people are still reported missing under the rubble of the 35 apartments destroyed that night.
This is the story of just one residential building, in one neighbourhood of one city.
That night, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Chernihiv, Zhytomyr, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv and Kyiv oblasts were also reportedly attacked with over 428 drones and missiles. In Odesa, two civilians were reportedly killed, and scores injured.
These levels of death and destruction risk dimming hope for an immediate ceasefire and threaten to undermine prospects for a lasting peace.
Madam President,
According to OHCHR, since the start of Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, at least 13,438 civilians, including 713 children, have been killed. The confirmed number of civilians injured stands at 33,279, including 2,092 children.
The first five months of 2025 alone, the number of civilian casualties in Ukraine totaled 5,144, with 859 killed and 4,285 injured. This figure was 47 per cent higher than in the same period in 2024.
This dramatic increase is a result of intensified use of long-range weapons, both missiles and loitering munitions, against cities across Ukraine.
According to Ukrainian authorities, between 1 and 17 June 2025, Russian armed forces launched at least 3,340 long-range drones, including loitering munitions and decoy drones, and 135 missiles into Ukraine.
By comparison, 544 long-range munitions were launched during the entire month of June 2024.
Madam President,
Escalating violence impacting civilians also continues to be reported, albeit at a far lower level, in bordering regions of the Russian Federation.
On 17 June, local authorities reported that a woman living near the border with Ukraine in Russia’s Kursk region died at the hospital a day after she was injured in a Ukrainian drone attack.
In another incident reported by the local authorities, on 9 June, a 64-year-old man was reportedly killed and five others were injured in a Ukrainian strike on a recreational center in the Kursk region.
The United Nations is not able to verify these reports.
Let me once again unequivocally state - attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure are strictly prohibited under international humanitarian law, wherever they occur.
We condemn all such attacks. They must cease immediately.
My colleague, Director Wosornu, of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, will provide updates about the impacts on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine.
Madam President,
Since our last briefing, important diplomatic developments have taken place on the challenging path towards a lasting peace in Ukraine.
On 2 June, Ukrainian and Russian delegations held their second face-to-face meeting in Istanbul, where they reportedly exchanged written memoranda outlining their respective visions for a ceasefire and parameters for a future peace settlement.
The talks also resulted in an agreement for large-scale exchanges of prisoners of war and of mortal remains, as well as civilian detainees. The exchanges have been carried out in phases in the weeks since then.
Earlier today, the latest round of exchanges of severely sick and wounded took place.
It followed several rounds of all-for-all exchanges of youth of 25 years and younger, started on 9 June. Further exchanges are expected.
As of 16 June, the mortal remains of 6,057 Ukrainian servicepersons and 78 Russian servicepersons were also reportedly returned by the sides.
We welcome these exchanges and encourage them to continue so that all remaining prisoners of war and civilian detainees soon return home.
These efforts provide answers to many families who have lived in uncertainty about their loved ones, re-unite prisoners of war and civilian detainees with their families, and allow those who have been subjected to dire conditions in captivity to return to safety.
Madam President,
We welcome the continuation of all meaningful diplomatic efforts, including the recent talks in Istanbul.
We urge the sides to make tangible progress towards a ceasefire and a lasting settlement through continued talks.
The United Nations position remains principled in support of a just and lasting peace in line with the UN Charter, international law and relevant UN resolutions and of Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, within its internationally recognized borders.
The Secretary-General has called for a complete, immediate and unconditional ceasefire as an important first step to that end.
As we are facing renewed escalation on the ground and crisis elsewhere, it is critical to maintain focused attention on the urgent need for peace in Ukraine.
We must redouble the efforts to ensure that the fragile diplomatic process is not only sustained but becomes irreversible.
The United Nations stands ready to support all meaningful efforts to that end.
Thank you.
Madame President,
We meet as the scope and scale of attacks in Iran and Israel continue to widen, with grave consequences for civilians in both countries.
In Iran, Israel claims to have targeted over 100 military sites and nuclear facilities, including the Kermanshah missile base, the Natanz and Isfahan nuclear facilities, and the Khondab (former Araak) heavy water reactor.
At the same time, government buildings, homes and residential neighborhoods, factories, hospitals, airports, and refineries have been struck in and around Tehran, Isfahan, Tabriz, Ahvaz, among other cities.
The bombing on 17 June of Iran’s state-run television channel during a live broadcast marked a chilling moment.
Residents of Tehran and other cities have received warnings to evacuate on more than one occasion. Iran has closed its airspace until further notice and has shut some border crossings.
In Israel, residential neighborhoods and essential infrastructure have been hit throughout the country, notably in Tel Aviv, Haifa, Bat Yam, Dimona, Petah Tikva, and Eilat.
Several civilian sites have been directly impacted by Iran’s airstrikes, including the Weizmann research institute in Rehovot, the Bazan petrochemical complex in Haifa, and yesterday, the Soroka Medical center in Beersheba.
A state of national emergency remains in place, with severe restrictions on air travel. Several areas in the occupied West Bank have also been impacted, and checkpoints and road closures are impacting movement, particularly for Palestinians.
Throughout the region, airspace remains severely constrained by these exchanges, not only within Iran and Israel, but also throughout Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and beyond.
The intensifying cycle of attacks and counterattacks has resulted in hundreds of civilian casualties, including fatalities, in both Iran and Israel.
According to Iran’s Ministry of Health, as of 19 June, 224 people had been killed and more than 2,500 others injured in Israeli strikes across Iran. The Health Ministry added that 90 per cent of the victims were civilians.
Other estimates, based on local non-governmental organizations and human rights groups, suggest the death toll is at least double the official figure.
In addition, there have been over 20 high-ranking Iranian military leaders killed, notably the Commander and Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, the IRGC Commander-in-Chief and IRGC Intelligence Chief, as well as several nuclear scientists.
We have also received reports of significant displacement out of Tehran – a city of over 12 million residents – resulting in massive traffic jams. Fuel shortages are leading to long queues at petrol stations, sometimes for over five hours, further hampering movement.
And still, many remain trapped in their homes in Tehran with nowhere to flee. In the absence of bomb shelters or air raid sirens in the city and widespread internet blackouts, further strikes are bound to harm more civilians.
In Israel, the Office of the Prime Minister stated that, as of 19 June, Iran’s strikes have killed 24 people and injured 915 others, the vast majority civilians. The strikes have also damaged homes, leading to the displacement of Israelis.
Madame President,
We are teetering on the edge of a full-blown conflict and a humanitarian crisis.
International humanitarian law must be respected, including the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution in attack.
Attacks directed against civilians and civilian objects, and indiscriminate attacks, are strictly prohibited. Medical personnel and medical facilities, including hospitals, must be respected and protected.
We are witnessing in real time the impact of the conflict regionally, with missile launches by the Houthis in Yemen towards Israel, and heightened tensions involving armed groups in Iraq.
With each passing day of fighting, the danger, particularly for civilians, grows. Interceptions and explosives falling short have been reported over Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Syria, sending debris into populated areas, sowing fear, and uncertainty.
Any further expansion of the conflict could have enormous consequences for the region and for international peace and security at large.
The fallout of the conflict is also economic. We cannot discount the global impact of a potential disruption of trade through the Strait of Hormuz – described by the World Bank as the “world’s most critical oil passageway.”
Trade through this vital route has already fallen by 15 per cent amid heightened regional tensions starting in late 2023.
Madame President,
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Grossi will address this Council shortly. Allow me at this juncture to express our appreciation to the IAEA and its staff still on the ground in Iran. We also convey our deepest gratitude to our UN colleagues who have continued to stay and deliver.
At the center of the ongoing conflict are concerns about Iran’s nuclear program. As the Secretary-General has consistently stated, the best way to address these concerns is through dialogue leading to a negotiated solution.
But the window to prevent a catastrophic escalation and achieve a peaceful resolution has not yet closed, as demonstrated by positive recent openings for diplomacy.
We welcome in this regard the talks between the Foreign Ministers of France, Germany, the UK, and Iran, [and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission] in Geneva today.
We strongly encourage such efforts. We must pursue every possible opportunity to de-escalate, to cease the hostilities, to settle disputes by peaceful means. The Charter that binds all of us mandates it.
The imperative for diplomacy has seldom been greater.
Thank you, Madame President.
One week since the Israel-Iran conflict erupted, diplomatic efforts to end the war are ramping up in Geneva as foreign ministers from France, Germany, the UK and the EU prepare to meet their Iranian counterpart. In New York, meanwhile, the UN Security Council heard the UN Secretary-General warn ambassadors that “we are on course to chaos” if the war widens “which could ignite a fire that no one can can control.” UN News app users can follow here.
The UN Security Council met on Friday to discuss the situation in Ukraine, where intensified fighting continues, affecting new areas and prompting further displacement.
The world stands on the edge of catastrophe, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned on Friday, as Israel’s military campaign inside Iran intensifies and strikes on nuclear facilities threaten to trigger a catastrophe.
Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and other senior officials from across the world have spoken about how international support was critical to putting their countries on the path to peace.
Hostilities continue to escalate across Sudan’s North Darfur and Kordofan regions, with reports of civilian casualties, sexual violence, abductions and looting, the UN human rights chief warned on Friday, describing the consequences as disastrous.
