Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed the 81st United Nations General Assembly

Escalating conflict between Iran, the US, and regional powers centered on Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, military strikes across the Gulf, NATO's response, and broader diplomatic and economic fallout including sanctions, cyber warfare, and the Israel-Lebanon front. The maritime confrontation between the United States and Iran expanded alongside Iranian missile attacks elsewhere in the region. Iran said it targeted ten vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, while the United States denied that its warships were hit. Jordan said it intercepted 18 of 20 Iranian missiles directed towards a U.S. base, with the remaining two landing in unpopulated areas without reported casualties.

Nearly 130 heads of state and government gathered in New York for the 2026 UN General Assembly high-level week, amid the wars involving Iran, Ukraine and Sudan, growing concern about artificial intelligence, and severe pressure on UN finances. The week also provided a venue for bilateral negotiations and political manoeuvring surrounding the selection of António Guterres's successor.