UN General Assembly 2026: US-Israeli war on Iran to take centre stage

Submitted by MEE staff on Mon, 09/21/2026 - 18:36 Trump, Iran’s president and other leaders will address the assembly as diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict remain stalled

People walk past the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, on 21 September 2026 (David 'Dee' Delgado/Reuters) Off

World leaders will converge on New York City this week for a United Nations General Assembly overshadowed by the US and Israeli war on Iran.

US President Donald Trump is scheduled to address the assembly early on Tuesday, returning to the UN a year after claiming US strikes had dealt a decisive blow to Iran's nuclear programme.

This time, however, he faces a sceptical international audience as Iran challenges Washington by restricting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, threatening a vital artery for global energy supplies and raising fears of further disruption to the world economy.

The pressure is also mounting beyond the Gulf.

Days before the UN gathering, Yemen's Houthis rapidly expanded their control along the Red Sea coast, capturing territory overlooking the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, another strategic chokepoint through which a significant share of global trade passes.

The US ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz told reporters on Friday that Trump would focus his speech on his administration's handling of international conflicts and the threat posed by Iran's nuclear programme.

"The president will highlight how he has and his administration have confronted complex problems head-on around the world," Waltz said.

"He will touch on the importance of ensuring that Iran never has a nuclear weapon.”

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is due to address the General Assembly on Wednesday, accompanied by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

His appearance will give Tehran a platform to set out its position on the war and challenge Washington's account of the conflict before the same international audience addressed by Trump a day earlier.

The week-long meeting, however, comes as the UN struggles to remain relevant, with many state leaders opting to skip the event entirely.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, who last participated in the UN gathering remotely in 2021, will not travel to New York City. Instead, he is expected to hold bilateral talks with Trump in Washington on Thursday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has not attended the event for more than a decade, will be sending Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

The leaders of India, Germany and South Africa are also reportedly sending their representatives.

Gaza and occupied Palestine

The war in Gaza is expected to feature prominently during the summit.

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Despite being the subject of an arrest warrant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to address the General Assembly on Thursday.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, however, will not be able to attend the gathering in person for a second consecutive year after the US extended its ban on Palestinian officials.

The Trump administration said the denial of entry was due to Palestinian actions to "internationalise the Israeli-Palestinian conflict", including pursuing cases against Israel at international tribunals.

The General Assembly voted on Thursday to allow Abbas to participate by video.

Diplomats said a high-level meeting is also expected to take place alongside the General Assembly to advance efforts towards a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians, although significant progress is not expected.

Sudan and the wider Middle East

Diplomats also expect a high-level meeting on Sudan's war to take place on the sidelines of the assembly.

Sudan has been engulfed in war since April 2023, when a power struggle between the country's military and the Rapid Support Forces erupted into conflict.

The fighting has forced more than 14 million people from their homes and triggered one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises.

Sudanese army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who became the country's de facto head of state following the 2019 ousting of longtime President Omar al-Bashir, is scheduled to address the General Assembly on Thursday.

Trump will also meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi at some point during the UN gathering, Iraqi outlets have reported.

Diplomacy US-Israeli war on Iran to take centre stage at UN General Assembly News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0