The UN and the crisis in the Middle East: What you need to know

What you need to know about the United Nations response to the conflict in the Middle East.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

18 June

US-Iran deal: technical work can begin, says atomic energy agency

© IAEA An IAEA staff member analyses material in the organization's plutonium laboratory in Austria.
© IAEA An IAEA staff member analyses material in the organization’s plutonium laboratory in Austria.

The head of the UN-affiliated atomic energy agency on Thursday welcomed the signing of an initial Iran-US memorandum aimed at ending the war, before proposing “to sit down” with both parties to assist with concrete measures such as verification of Iran’s nuclear programme, a key sticking point. (UN News)

17 June

  • UNIFIL naval peacekeepers help Lebanese Navy take on maritime security duties (UNIFIL)
  • Lebanon: 12 children killed, maimed daily, despite Hezbollah-Israel truce (UN News)

15 June

  • IMO Secretary-General welcomes US-Iran agreement(IMO)
  • While world waits for details on Iran-US accord, UN calls for Hormuz aid corridor (UN News)

14 June

  • Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General – on the conflict in the Middle East (OSSG)

12 June

  • Peacekeepers repair roads and bridges to improve access (UNIFIL)

11 June

  • Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General – on the conflict in the Middle East (OSSG)

10 June

  • Secretary-General’s remarks to the Security Council – on the Middle East (OSSG)

9 June

  • UNESCO steps up support as Lebanon‘s crisis unfolds (UNESCO)
  • No safe passage: Strait of Hormuz remains highly volatile (IMO)

8 June

  • Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General – on the Middle East (OSSG)
  • WFP warning becomes a reality for millions as Middle East crisis pushes poorest families further into hunger (WFP)

5 June

  • WFP warning becomes a reality for millions as Middle East crisis pushes poorest families further into hunger | World Food Programme (WFP)

The UN Charter remains humanity’s best hope for peace.

Amid geopolitical divisions, member countries must uphold it & ensure that the UN lives up to what it was meant to be:

A forum for solutions.

A guardian of international law.

And a force for peace and security.

António Guterres

Secretary-General of the United Nations (27 May 2026)

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