World leaders have left New York after a busy week of speeches, negotiations and private meetings at the United Nations, with several major international issues dominating discussions.
While the week produced few major breakthroughs, diplomats made limited progress on conflicts involving Iran and Ukraine, while artificial intelligence emerged as another major issue on the global agenda.
1. Iran diplomacy gets a new opening
The United Nations provided a venue for the first indirect talks between US and Iranian officials since the collapse of a ceasefire in July. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner communicated through mediators.
Iran has been reviewing US responses to proposals that include lifting a US naval blockade on Iranian ports and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautioned that any agreement would require further negotiations.
2. Ukraine talks focus on grain and energy
US and Russian officials also discussed the war in Ukraine. Rubio said both Russia and Ukraine had expressed interest in a limited ceasefire covering grain shipments and energy-related targets.
The discussions come as Ukraine and its allies seek arrangements to protect energy infrastructure and maintain Black Sea shipping ahead of winter. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, however, showed no clear indication that Moscow was ready to commit to such an agreement.
3. AI takes centre stage
Artificial intelligence received significant attention during this year's UN meetings, in some cases overshadowing climate discussions that have traditionally featured prominently at the General Assembly.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei took part in a UN Security Council meeting focused on AI risks and called for governments to cooperate in managing increasingly powerful systems.
The discussions also came amid reports of AI systems being used in cyber operations, adding to concerns about how governments should respond to emerging technology risks.
4. Venezuela makes a surprise appearance
Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez made an unexpected appearance in New York and held her first face-to-face meeting with US President Donald Trump since taking office.
The Venezuelan delegation focused on economic issues, including the restructuring of the country's sovereign debt, while discussions also involved US officials, international lenders and businesses.
Trump used his UN address to discuss Venezuela and an oil agreement between Washington and Caracas.
5. Sudan's leader was notably absent
Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan was among the most prominent absences from the General Assembly after the United States withheld his visa.
The decision came amid disagreement over a US-backed ceasefire proposal for Sudan's civil war. The conflict has created what the United Nations describes as the world's largest humanitarian crisis.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was another notable absence, addressing the General Assembly by video instead.
6. The UN faces an uncertain future
The week also highlighted questions about the future role and finances of the United Nations. The organisation is dealing with budget pressures, geopolitical divisions and criticism from some member states.
Secretary-General António Guterres delivered what was expected to be his final General Assembly address before leaving office at the end of 2026. His successor has yet to be chosen, with diplomats using informal rounds of voting to gauge support for candidates.
Among those leading the current informal process are former Costa Rican Vice President Rebeca Grynspan and Guyana's UN ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, although the process remains open and the informal polls do not constitute a final selection.
The week ultimately demonstrated both the value and limitations of UN diplomacy. New channels for discussions emerged on several conflicts and emerging technologies, but major disagreements remain unresolved and the organisation continues to face questions about its influence in a divided