The 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly has been more than a forum for development and climate plans. Speeches in New York have exposed sharp disagreements over Iran, Ukraine and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as the UN’s ability to respond to them. This review covers speeches and events through September 24; the General Debate is still underway.

The United States and Iran. In his September 22 address, U.S. President Donald Trump defended American military action against Iran and said he would not allow it to obtain a nuclear weapon. He also raised the possibility of an agreement while calling for continued economic pressure. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian rejected Trump’s accusations the following day, saying Iran had acted in self-defense and maintained that its nuclear program was peaceful. Their speeches showed how far apart the two governments remain.

The war in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged countries to keep pressure on Russia, particularly on the revenue and production that support its war. Trump, meanwhile, said Washington was working with both sides to end the conflict. Kyiv emphasized pressure on Moscow; Trump emphasized the prospect of negotiations.

Israel and Palestine. The conflict took center stage on September 24, when Israeli and Palestinian leaders presented sharply different accounts of the crisis and its future. Their addresses underscored the distance between the parties at a time when other leaders are warning about the conflict’s wider impact. Their assertions should be understood as the speakers’ positions, rather than independently established findings.

Brazil and the future of the UN. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called for the UN to regain its role as a place for peacemaking. He warned against foreign interference in countries’ affairs and questioned the international response to ongoing conflicts. His speech raised a central question of this session: can international institutions keep pace with the crises they are expected to address?

Beyond the political speeches, leaders have discussed climate action and the transition to clean energy. At a September 24 meeting, participants also approved a draft declaration on sea-level rise for later formal adoption by the General Assembly. Island and coastal countries pressed for financing and legal protections as they confront the consequences of rising seas.

TN News analysis: The opening days have shown broad agreement that global crises are serious, but deep disagreement over their causes and solutions. The measure of this session will be whether leaders turn their speeches into practical commitments after the meetings end.