UN diplomacy week: Iran talks advance, Ukraine ceasefire stalls, AI dominates

A week of United Nations diplomacy ended without major breakthroughs, though talks on Iran and Ukraine inched forward and AI risks dominated discussions. The annual gathering featured shuttle diplomacy between US and Iranian officials, limited ceasefire discussions on Ukraine, and a Security Council meeting on artificial intelligence. US and Iranian officials held their first shuttle talks since July's ceasefire collapse, with Tehran reviewing Washington's response to proposals including lifting a naval blockade. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who voiced interest in a limited ceasefire on grain and energy targets, though Lavrov later showed no willingness to engage. AI debates overshadowed climate change, with OpenAI and Anthropic CEOs urging government cooperation after safety breaches. Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez made a surprise visit for talks with President Trump, while Sudan's army chief was notably absent after the US withheld his visa. The UN faces an uncertain future as Secretary-General Antonio Guterres prepares to leave office, with no clear frontrunner to replace him amid shrinking budgets and declining influence.