UNGA update, Nuclear Weapons, Ukraine/Russia & other topics - Daily Press Briefing

Okay. Hi, media colleagues. I think we have a quorum. So we'll get started. Thanks for coming today. Just a bit of a debrief on the high-level week for you all. Over the course of the general debate, 194 delegations briefed the Assembly. That included 113 heads of state and government, one crown prince, 11 vice presidents, seven deputy prime ministers, and 48 ministers. Our preliminary numbers also indicate that about one in every speakers was a woman, about 14%. That's up slightly from last year when it was 12% and even a bit more from 2024. So we're making some minor strides, but not nearly fast enough. Also, according to our preliminary numbers, more than 60% of speakers mentioned artificial intelligence in their speeches. Almost three quarters of speakers mentioned climate in some capacity. As you know, five mandated high-level meetings were convened, including one just today on the total elimination of nuclear weapons. And we held the annual meeting of the UNGA Platform of Women's Leaders jointly with UN Women. One consensus outcome document was approved during the week. That was a political declaration approved by the high-level plenary meeting to address the existential threats posed by sea level rise. That's expected to be formally adopted by the plenary in October. And apart from his other engagement, the President of the Assembly has so far held a total of 95 bilateral meetings with heads of state and government, ministers, and other senior officials as of this morning. This also includes bilaterals with UN agency heads, Sorry. This also includes meetings with agency heads, member state blocs, and coalitions. And as you know, the theme for the Assembly debate this week was restoring trust, managing transformation, a United Nations that delivers for all. This theme was widely embraced by member states and resonated strongly, including in the President's bilateral meetings. In this vein, the PGA in his opening remarks called, and I quote, for "action, sober reflection, clear-eyed realism, and pragmatism in all of the challenges and opportunities facing the United Nations." He emphasized that one of the areas where the UN works best is at the country level, where teams are agile and nimble. from serving Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh to feeding, sheltering, and protecting civilians in Iraq, Ukraine, Haiti, and elsewhere. He called for urgent reform of the Security Council and especially for Africa's representation, emphasizing that, I quote, "Africa needs to be at the table, not on the menu." Now, I know that many of you have questions on particular events and other matters, so I'm going to stop there and open the floor for questions. I will do my best to answer them today now, but when I can't, I'll confer with colleagues and I'll get back to you. So please, and still please your names and outlets, if possible. Yes, Susan.

Thank you. Thank you so much. Susan Tehrani from Voice of America. What does the President of the General Assembly want to see from Iran on its nuclear program as these diplomatic negotiations and talks continue? Thank you.

Yeah, the President echoes calls from across the UN system for de-escalation by all the parties in that conflict and for the urgent protection of civilians. President Rachman is a career diplomat. He's a civil servant, and he believes in the power of dialogue and diplomacy. He feels strongly that there's no military solution to this crisis. The President also remains concerned about the impact of the current stalemate on freedom of navigation, as well as on food prices and fertilizer prices. other critical items to people's everyday lives, especially for the poorest of the poor. And he hopes that dialogue will resume and diplomacy will prevail as soon as possible. Yes.

Thank you. One of the big issues at this year's general debate and one for many years has been reform of the Security Council. What is the President of the General Assembly planning to do to try and follow up on the increasing clamor for reform of the Security Council?

Well, as I said, he spoke very candidly about the need for Africa's representation. He's very clear on this. And he will follow the intergovernmental negotiation process, which is mandated and ongoing. He intends to lead the Assembly, you know, clearly in this process and follow the wishes and desires of the groups in the Member States.

And he's not going to take any additional measures to try and speed it up and actually try and get some action as opposed to years and decades of discussions.

Yes, he emphasizes the need for action in all of his priorities. However, I don't have further comment on that process. Anyone else in the room have a question? We can take some questions online as well. Let's see. We have Abdul Hamid.

Yes.

Hi.

Can you hear me?

I can. Please go ahead.

Thank you, Melissa. Yeah, I have a question about the behavior of some diplomats in the General Assembly. The first, when the Prime Minister of Israel displayed the pager, bragging about a weapon that he used, which killed or maimed thousands of Lebanese people. And the second, When the Israeli ambassador walked to the table of the Iranian delegate and he spoke directly to them, displaying the Starlink telephone or device in front of them and telling them to take it to the Iranian people, which they love it. Both behaviors were in contradiction with the general acceptable and custom behavior in the United Nations, which is not common. Did the President of the GA express his displeasure or in any way criticize this behavior and convey it to the concerned party?

Look, Member States speaking before the Assembly do have wide latitude to express their views while still being expected to respect the Assembly's rules of procedure. This is a house of dialogue and free expression. However, I would echo my counterpart, Ardjan Stefan, in expressing our wish and the President's wish that Member States would respect the dignity and the solemnity of the GA Hall and of the occasion. I have no information on the contents of his bilateral meetings with any of the parties.

Thank you.

Do we have more questions from the online community? Anyone just arriving who may have another question? No? Okay, going once, going twice. Thank you, colleagues. One more from the floor, I mean, from the virtual community. Abu Sufyan.

Yes. Thank you for.

Doing this. Thank you. Thank you for doing this. As PGEs are in Bangladesh government previously as a high representative for Rohingya issue during interim government of Bangladesh. Can we expect more impactful or meaningful result from him on this particular issue?

On the Rohingya crisis? Yes. So it is, as you know, it's a discussion that's taken up by the Assembly in different capacities. It's something that the President remains deeply engaged in, cares a lot about. So you can expect that it will remain on the table, it will remain under discussion. And he has a personal interest in this matter, yes.

Do you have any specific information about this plan?

I don't at this time, but we will relay it when we have something.

Thank you.

Hi. Hi. Can I make a quick question? So during his speech, Israeli Prime Minister left a Starlink device on the podium, and he asked to give it to the Iranian delegation. Did the President take it? And more importantly, did he see this gesture as an act of defiance?

I've just answered this question, actually. I'm sorry, you were just walking in, but I believe it's on record. Yes, I mentioned that there's, you know, wide latitude to express positions and views, but that we do expect that the rules of the Assembly will be followed. Thank you. Yes, sir.

Hi, it's Gabriel from Al Jazeera.

Hi, Gabriel. Nice to see you in person. Thanks for all your help during last week with all the information.

If another candidate for Secretary General is nominated by a member state, is it the President of the General Assembly's intention to hold an interactive dialogue like the previous session or not?

So as of today, as we know, no new candidates have been put forward beyond the ones that we're aware of. The president has stated that he will ensure that any new candidate that emerges is properly introduced to the wider membership. The format that this takes may be slightly different from this presidency, from the previous presidency, but he will act firmly in line with all relevant revitalization resolutions.

I have another question, Melissa.

Yes.

Thank you. You said that 194 statements have been read in the GA. We know there is 193 member states and two observer states. Both observer states spoke, the Vatican and Palestine. That means there is one member state did not speak. Could you tell us which member state did not deliver a statement in the GA?

I am told that two did not deliver member states, Afghanistan and Myanmar. I'm hoping this is correct. I will check and get back to you, but those are the two that I'm aware of.

Yeah. Thank you.

Yes. Any other questions?

Thank you, Melissa. Sylviane, do you know why the Do State didn't make a statement? Do you have any explanation?

I'm sorry, I don't. This is not an OPGA matter. This is a DGACM and protocol matter. They handle inscriptions. So I would check with DGACM.

Thank you. On the succession of Guterres, Do you have any information about Mrs. Baki? Is she still on the run?

As far as I know.

Is she still running?

As far as I know, yes. But right now the conversation is with the Security Council, and that would be a matter for to ask Stefan. Thank you. Yeah, we're clear. All right. Thank you, colleagues. Thanks for coming today.

Freezing in here. Absolutely freezing. No, it's trying to keep you guys awake because I know I put you to sleep. So, it's a form of torture. All right. Good afternoon to all of you. You heard a good friend, Melissa, give you a whole bunch of data. I will just add that our Secretary General plowed through 147 bilateral meetings. starting with the foreign minister of Morocco on Wednesday 16th of September to his meeting with the foreign minister of India today 29th September and I think you've had more you've had about 138 readouts to read you've enjoyed every single one of them and don't worry there are two more coming so we'll have about 142 140 readouts And there will be a quiz on all of them. This morning, the Secretary-General delivered remarks at the plenary meeting marking the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons. He warned that we are at the most dangerous nuclear moment since the end of the Cold War, with arsenals expanding, nuclear rhetoric growing louder, and safeguards built over decades of breaking down. The Secretary-General stressed that disarmament is not a favor, but a binding legal obligation. He called on countries possessing nuclear weapons to return to dialogue to prevent any use of nuclear weapons and reduce the role of nuclear weapons in their security policy. He also urged that the United States and the Russian Federation negotiate a successor framework to the New START Treaty. The Secretary-General called on countries to choose a future free from nuclear weapons, stressing that these devices of death must never decide the fate of humanity. Those remarks were shared with you. Turning to Ukraine. The Secretary-General is alarmed by the scale of escalating daily attacks on the capital, Kyiv, and other cities in Ukraine, and those attacks by the armed forces of the Russian Federation, which are reportedly causing a record number of civilian casualties. This includes yesterday's appalling attack on the Nuclear Academy of Sciences in Kyiv. He's equally concerned by the rising number of civilian casualties as a result of increasing attacks by the Ukrainian armed in the Russian Federation. The Secretary -- That is actually not my voice, and that's very bizarre. The Secretary-General condemns all attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure wherever they occur and urges an immediate end to this dangerous escalatory spiral. The Secretary-General calls for re-energized focus on diplomacy to urgently de-escalate tensions and pave the way for an immediate, full, and unconditional ceasefire as a first step towards a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace in Ukraine in line with international law, including the UN Charter and relevant U.N. resolutions. The United Nations stands ready to support all meaningful efforts to that end. Turning to Myanmar, I can tell you that we are alarmed by reports indicating that an airstrike near a market in the town of Kyaukhtaung in Rakhine State that occurred on 28 September reportedly killed 50 people and injured nearly 60. Many of those injured were critically injured. Our thoughts are with those affected and their families. Continuing violence in Rakhine state underscores that conditions do not currently exist for the safe, voluntary, dignified, and sustainable return of refugees and other displaced people, including Rohingyas. This latest airstrike brings that reality into sharp focus. The Secretary-General strongly condemns these attacks and calls on all parties to end violence immediately, to protect civilians, and comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law. He also calls on the perpetrators of this airstrike to be held to account. The Secretary-General urges all parties to enable safe, sustained, and unimpeded access for the United Nations and our partners to deliver humanitarian assistance wherever it is needed and to whoever needs it. The UN Human Rights Chief, Volker Turk, also deployed these military airstrikes and noted that the latest attacks raise a serious concern for the respect of international law. And on a related note, I can tell you that the Secretary-General echoes the concerns expressed by the UN Refugee Agency and the UN Human Rights Office on the reported return of some 1,500 individuals from Myanmar by authorities in Malaysia. He strongly urges the authorities of Malaysia to halt the process and cease further return. As I've just mentioned, you've seen that the armed conflict is ongoing and the violence is widespread. along with human rights violations. UNHCR maintains that current conditions do not permit safe, dignified, and sustainable return. Under customary international law and a binding obligation on all states, no one should be sent to a country where they may face persecution, torture, serious harm, or other threats to life or liberty or security. For his part, our UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk also called on Malaysian authorities to immediately halt this process, underscoring as well that the conditions are not ripe for safe, voluntary, and dignified return. There's more online from UNHCR and our human rights colleagues. I was asked about the events of the Security Council this morning concerning Haiti, and I can tell you that the Secretary-General welcomes the adoption of Resolution 2829, which renews the mandate of the GANJ, Depression Force and extends the mandate of the UN Support Office in Haiti. The Secretary-General calls on Member States to build on this momentum by working without respite to ensure the timely deployment of the remaining personnel so that the Force can fully undertake its important mandate. The Secretary-General takes this opportunity to recall that security support is imperative to creating the space for progress, including towards the restoration of democratic institutions in Haiti through holding of peaceful and inclusive elections, and must also be accompanied by sustained efforts to address the broader challenges facing Haiti, including the political, institutional, human rights, and humanitarian development dimensions of the crisis. And on the humanitarian front in that country, many communities are at risk during this Atlantic hurricane season, which will continue through the end of November. Nearly 1.5 million people are displaced across Haiti, and the majority of them live outside of the capital, Port-au-Prince. They are staying in overcrowded collective shelters, with host families, or in formal sites. All of this leaves them exposed to flooding, landslides, and severe weather. Our Humanitarian partners are working with national and local authorities in early warning, contingency planning, and prepositioning of essential supplies to be ready before the storm hits. However, insecurity and funding shortfalls continue to hamper our work. This year's humanitarian appeal plan for Haiti seeks $880 million to support about 4 million people. It is less than half. funded. We ask for more money and more flexible money to help fund these operations. Turning to Sudan, our humanitarian colleagues are warning that funding shortfalls there are also threatening critical water services for hundreds of thousands of displaced people as conflict and climate shocks continue to impact the lives of people in Sudan. In El Obeid, water trucking at the Min Al-Bari displacement site, which is hosting more than 9,000 families, is at risk due to rising fuel prices and funding shortages. And in Tawila, in North Darfur, a town that has suffered a lot, water trucking is expected to decline sharply in the coming months if additional funding is not received. Tawila is currently hosting 625,000 displaced human beings, with water trucking providing up to 2,500 cubic meters of water every day for about 150,000 people. OCHA is calling for additional funding to scale up critical assistance. The 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, which requires $2.9 billion to reach more than 20 million people, is less than 43% funded, with $1.2 billion received to date. And also in the Security Council today, the head of our peacekeeping operation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, James Swan, briefed Council members via video connection. He said that diplomatic efforts have continued under the Washington, Doha, and African Union-led processes, with the peacekeeping mission supporting the ceasefire monitoring and the implementation of the commitments made by the parties. Despite this progress, Mr. Swan warned that fighting And attacks by armed groups continues to threaten civilians, drive displacement, and disrupt humanitarian assistance. He also expressed deep concern at the human rights violations, including conflict-related sexual violence, and humanitarian crisis compounded by food insecurity and Ebola. He urged all Congolese stakeholders to pursue an inclusive national dialogue and continue to remain engaged in the regional peace processes. On the humanitarian front, OCHA tells us that recent violence in Ituri Province reportedly killed at least four displaced people and forced more than 3,000 others to flee, according to local authorities. In North Kivu, two people involved in Ebola response were reportedly killed in Lubero Territory, while violence in South Kivu and Tanganyika has displaced thousands more. We and our partners continue to support people affected by displacement, conflict, and the Ebola outbreak. However, the $2.1 billion humanitarian needs response plan there also is only half funded. We call for additional resources and safe, sustained, and unhindered humanitarian access throughout the country. Turning to the occupied Palestinian territory, the Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs tells us that Israeli fire struck in the vicinity of UN facilities and humanitarian convoys on several occasions over the past few days. While, thank God, no casualties were reported in that context, we reiterate yet again that civilians, including humanitarian personnel, of course, and operations we lead, must always be protected and must never be targeted. Meanwhile, in recent days, our partners provided about 13,000 people with mental health support, counseling, explosive ordnance risk education, sessions on reproductive health. Our partners distributed hygiene kits to over 200 displaced families, as well as about 740 food parcels, 6,000 adult diapers, 2,000 assistive devices, including wheelchairs. And in the West Bank, I think we all continue to be extremely worried and concerned about the settler attacks that are continuing against Palestinian families. They undermine their safety, their livelihoods, and access to essential resources and services, which in turn puts more pressure on Palestinians to leave their homes and communities. A quick note on Syria, where we haven't spoken about the humanitarian situation there for a while. Our colleagues tell us that internally displaced people continue to return to their areas of origin across the country in July and August alone. Nearly 39,000 displaced people left displacement sites. We see these returns as a positive sign, but we underscore at the same time that needs are increasingly shifting from camps to communities where people are returning, because often they find damaged homes, limited public service, and a lack of jobs, and it makes it that much more difficult for people to start rebuilding their lives. We and our partners are doing everything we can to help in restoring essential services in these communities, including water, electricity networks, hospitals, schools, bakeries, roads, and more. In Aleppo and Idlib, for example, more than 120,000 people have now better access to bread, with additional facilities expected to benefit a further 300,000 people. Humanitarian assistance continues across the country as well. Between January and July of this year, an average of 2.5 million people a month received support, including food, healthcare, water, shelter, clean water, and education. Some $120 million in cash assistance and vouchers have also been provided to families in need. But our OCHA colleagues tell us that 15 million people still require humanitarian assistance. The $2.9 billion humanitarian assistance plan is less than a third funded. As people return home, they need continued support to rebuild their lives and restore essential services to their communities. And turning to Africa and the impacts of El Nino on the continent, Tom Fletcher, our Emergency Relief Coordinator, has allocated millions of dollars from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund to get ahead of the worst impacts of drought and dry conditions in three countries. In South Sudan, $6 million from the CERF will support early action on the worsening drought driven in part by El Nino, which Mr. Fletcher warned, is putting lives and livelihoods at risk. The funds will help provide food, health, nutrition, protection, water, and sanitation services in a country where humanitarian needs are already severe. Our humanitarian colleagues note that more than two in every three people in South Sudan need aid. That's over 10 million people in total. Meanwhile, in Zimbabwe, $4 million was allocated from CERF by Tom Fletcher. This is for anticipatory action to get food, health, and nutrition in before the drought arrives. Finally, in Chad, $3.6 million from CERF was sent by Tom Fletcher to help 350,000 people prepare for expected impacts of drought, which could worsen food insecurity and undermine livelihoods. The funds will complement the government's effort to support early warning activities, cash assistance of vulnerable households, livelihood, feed, malnutrition, screening, treatment, disease surveillance, and the prevention of gender-based violence. Just want to flag that our friend Kathy Russell, the executive director of UNICEF, has just wrapped up a two-day visit to Jordan. She commended the country's progress for children and called for continued support to sustain as to stain it as funding declines. UNICEF says almost every child now attends a primary school in Jordan, but around one in seven children live in multidimensional poverty without reliable access to services such as health care and education. More information is online. And just also to flag more money woes, UNHCR today released A report that shows that severe funding cuts are forcing the agency to scale back core programs, leaving millions without the support they need to be safe. According to the report, nearly 8.3 million refugees and other forcibly displaced stateless people are on the brink of losing vital assistance. Available funding for UNHCR fell from $5.2 billion to $3.9 billion between '24 and '25. By the end of July of this year, UNHCR had received only 32 percent of the $8.5 billion needed this year, even as the number of people UNHCR is mandated to protect remains at historically high level. The agency, as you know, has undertaken significant reforms and difficult prioritization measures to protect its most critical work, but the and persistence of the funding shortfalls means that even UNHCR's highest priority protection and solutions work is now being affected. We urge donors to support the agency. Today, lastly, is the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, so perhaps a good day to ask how much food we produce actually ends up being eaten? The answer is less than you might think. Globally, 19% of food available to consumers is wasted, while 13% is lost before it even reaches retail shelves. There is an observance being held in Rome today, co-hosted by FAO and the UN Environmental Programme. This year's theme is focused on the transformative potential of reducing food loss and waste. Edith Leder, Associated Press.

Thank you, Steph. The Malaysian government has prevented the UN refugee and human rights people from talking to the Rohingya who are being sent back to Myanmar. Does the UN have anyone on the ground in Myanmar who might be able to talk to them about their forced return?

Well, I mean, our colleagues at UNHCR We are committed to continue to work with the government of Myanmar, but as you said, this operation is being done without monitoring or support of the UN. It's been clear, I mean, I just talked about this horrific air attack, that the situation is not ripe for safe, dignified, and voluntary return. Our colleagues in both the country offices in Myanmar and Malaysia are trying to get more detail, but what is clear is that we will not support operations that do not meet international law standards. Yes, madam.

Thank you, Steph. External Affairs Minister Jaishankar met the Secretary-General a little while ago. Do you have a readout of the meeting?

What was discussed? I do not yet, I don't think, have a readout of that meeting. As soon as we have it, I will share it with you. It will be the 139th readout that we issue. Yes, go ahead. Yes, please, Namir.

Thank you, Stephane. So the U.S.-led coalition is officially withdrawing from Iraq tomorrow. But some people in Iraq, especially in the Kurdistan region, are concerned that this is premature and irresponsible, and it could create a security vacuum for extremist groups like ISIS to mount a resurgence. And also, they say they are being left exposed to attacks from Iran with the defensive systems gone. Does the Secretary General share this concern about populations being exposed to harm?

The decision to remove the U.S. troops is a sovereign decision of the United States. Obviously, we're aware there were discussions with the government of Iraq. What is clear is that the government of Iraq, like every other government, has a responsibility to ensure that all of its citizens on all of its territory is kept safe. Yes, Deepak.

Thank you, Steph. Deepak Arora from New Delhi. So today, the Secretary General gave remarks on the nuclear test ban, the meeting. And I just want to know that during his 139 meetings, did he get any kind of a positive response as to how to proceed further so that you know, we are able to eliminate nuclear weapons.

I mean, it's a hard question to answer. I don't know how many of those meetings that were the nuclear issue was discussed. The Secretary General's standpoint and position could not be more vivid than how he explained it himself earlier today. And this is something that he will keep pushing for. But obviously, He doesn't control the nuclear weapons and doesn't control the potential proliferation. It is up to member states to live up to the commitments that they themselves have made. Yes, sir.

Thank you. The Secretary-General has warned that the situation in Ethiopia could lead to a broader conflict. Beyond calling for restraint, what concrete steps is the UN taking? not to avert further escalation? And what concrete support is it providing the AU and the AU envoy, former President Obasanjo?

We are obviously, as you mentioned, very concerned about the resurgence of conflict in parts of Ethiopia that this round started when the TPLF took over the airport in Mekelle, in Tigray. We have a special envoy for the Horn of Africa who is working in support of President and the Pretoria process, and we will continue to do that. Okay. Yes, Nathan, then we'll go to the screen. We have a couple of yellow hands up there.

Thank you so much, Stephen. I am Nathan, a Daga Mashad fellow from Zimbabwe. So my question is based on the El Nino, the El Nino that you mentioned, and Southern Africa is part of the region that's facing food insecurity as a result of El Nino conditions. So I was looking at some of the programs that the United Nations has been implementing to promote sustainable livelihoods for marginalized populations in places like Southern Africa. So I just wanted to know from you. on your rating, do you think these have been helping marginalized populations to guard against El Nino?

We are doing what we can to, as you say, help the populations guard against the negative impacts of El Nino. I mean, we just announced that Tom Fletcher had released $6 million for Zimbabwe as anticipatory action to pre-position aid and to help with programs can mitigate the damage from El Nino. Our offices throughout the potentially impacted countries are working closely with the government in support of their efforts, and we are there in solidarity with the people. We'll do whatever we can to help them. Okay, let's go to Lenka, Abdelhamid, and then Zahra.

Thank you, Stephane. Please, if I can ask you two questions. In the SG's view, in what way the UN General Assembly has contributed to efforts to resolve the Ukrainian crisis? And second, is he going now to do some concrete steps, actions to help to resolve it following the GA? Thank you.

Well, I mean, on your latter question, the Secretary-General will continue to be of help wherever he can in support of ending the war in Ukraine, in line with, as I've said many times, with General Assembly resolutions, international law, and the territorial integrity of Ukraine. I will leave the analysis to journalists such as yourselves. A number of member states talked about Ukraine, many of them from very differing viewpoints. We know that there were a number of meetings, discrete meetings on the sidelines between various delegations. As we always say, diplomacy is a process. We hope that those countries most concerned use their time wisely at the UN to have discussions amongst themselves, with other member states, and with UN officials to move towards ending the conflict.

Thank you. If I can just follow up, do you think he's going to pick up the phone and actively call, or is he more like waiting for opportunity to appear?

I think the Secretary General has been as active as he can on this file, and when we have more to share with you, we will. Abdel Hamid, then Zahra.

Thank you, Stefan. On Sunday, the Israeli Defense Minister Katz issued a decree imposing full closure on the West Bank during the Jewish holidays, which ends, as he said, the evening of next Saturday. An average of one checkpoint every six kilometers now in the West Bank. Everyone is confined to their homes and their villages. Do you have any comment on that?

Look, I mean, I would refer you to what Mr. Lavkarov had said and said to the Security Council in very vivid terms yesterday about the very troubling, to say the least, situation in the West Bank.

And for a third day in a row, settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque, sometimes 1,200, sometimes more, sometimes less. Again, today, there was, and they went to do prayer in Al-Aqsa Mosque. Any comment on that as well?

I mean, for us, it remains vital, especially as tensions rise, that the status quo of the holy places in Jerusalem remains. Zahra.

Hi, SF. Thank you so much. I have a question on Iran. Does the Secretary-General consider U.S. sanction on Iran that puts Iranians' access to medicines and aviation safety at risk a violation of the U.N. Charter and a crime against humanity? If so, what action will he take?

Look, What I will tell you is that the Secretary-General has often expressed his concern about the increasing use of unilateral sanctions, which wind up hurting ordinary people wherever they are put in place. Thank you. Yes, Deepak, please.

Just one of my colleagues, she just asked you a question on Ukraine. Now, the Secretary General in his statement said, all nuclear weapon states must reduce the role of nuclear weapons in their security policies with confidence building measures that ensure transparency. Now, Ukraine was the one country who surrendered their nuclear arsenal. And on the other hand, so the war is still on. And Iran is not sure what is the status on holding on building nuclear weapons, you know. So what is your, the Secretary General's assessment on these two contrasting scenarios?

I think we will leave the compare and contrast and the deep analysis to a veteran foreign policy journalist such as yourself. Those countries that have commitments vis-a-vis the IAEA International UN Atomic Energy Agency need to live up to those commitments. Thank you.