UN General Assembly opens high-level week with Middle East in focus

The United Nations General Assembly opened a week of high-level diplomacy in New York on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, with the Middle East as the central focus amid escalating global crises and a weakened UN. World leaders are gathering to present their positions to the international community. The session occurs as the UN faces financial and credibility challenges, with the Ukraine war now in its fourth year. Tensions with Iran, the blocked Strait of Hormuz, and regional conflicts are expected to dominate discussions, while artificial intelligence and pandemic measures are also on the agenda. Oil prices have dropped below $100 a barrel on hopes for diplomatic progress, though no meeting between Donald Trump and Iran's president is confirmed. A session on the two-state solution is set for Tuesday, and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is expected to arrive Thursday.