U.N. welcomes Israel–Iran ceasefire, urges diplomacy and return to verification talks

The United Nations welcomed a reported ceasefire between Israel and Iran and called on both countries to respect the ceasefire fully and to pursue diplomacy to prevent the resumption of hostilities.

A U.N. spokesperson said the secretary-general “welcomed President Trump’s announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran,” and urged the two countries to respect the ceasefire, emphasizing that “the fighting must stop” because “the people of both Israel and Iran have already suffered too much.” The spokesperson added that the secretary-general hopes the ceasefire “can be replicated in the other conflicts in the region.”

Journalists asked whether the ceasefire might create an opening for broader diplomatic efforts, including a return to engagement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and questions about the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The U.N. spokesperson said the U.N. wants to see “a return to diplomacy” and “the regime where the IAEA was engaged in a dialogue with Iran,” but added the U.N. cannot predict future steps and that Security Council reporting duties on the JCPOA continue.

The spokesperson also noted U.N. contact with U.S. and other missions and said the U.N. would follow formal notifications. On questions about whether the IAEA had immediate access to Iranian sites, the spokesperson directed reporters to the IAEA for technical details.

The briefing emphasized that while some diplomatic progress has occurred, the U.N. sees an immediate need for political courage by leaders to “put a stop to this carnage,” and said that diplomacy sometimes, but not always, works through U.N. channels.