UN News Today 18 June 2026 |

US-Iran deal: Technical work can begin, says atomic energy agency chief

The head of the UN-affiliated atomic energy agency on Thursday welcomed the signing of an Iran-US accord aimed at ending the war – and offered assistance in verifying Iran’s nuclear programme, a critical sticking point.

Reports indicate that the memorandum of understanding allows for 60 days of negotiations to achieve a deal on issues, including uranium enrichment by Iran.

Tehran must also reaffirm that it does not intend to develop a nuclear weapon.

Here’s Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), speaking in Geneva:

“We believe the fact that the indispensable role of the IAEA is recognized is a sound point of departure. Now it’s for us to sit down with our American colleagues, our Iranian colleagues and start formulating the concrete steps that will have to be taken.” 

Other requirements listed in the memorandum include the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to all shipping and an easing of US and Security Council sanctions on Iran, as well as a reported $300 billion fund to rebuild the country following Israeli and US bombing. 

AI is blurring lines between civilian and military use, disarmament chief says

The issue of who’s in charge of AI-driven machines – and ultimately who’s responsible for them – were in the spotlight on Thursday, as the UN’s disarmament chief warned that the boundaries between the private sector and the military are becoming increasingly blurred.

Speaking at an AI ethics and security event hosted by UN disarmament research institute, UNIDIR, Izumi Nakamitsu said that the pros and cons of the revolutionary technology could not be discussed without considering mainstream factors too:

“The same advances in foundational models, computing power and infrastructure autonomy that drive civilian innovation can also have implications for military applications. So, this means that discussions on AI governance and discussions on international peace and security can no longer be really treated entirely separate tracks.”

Ms. Nakamitsu, who’s the UN’s High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, stressed that AI should serve humanity rather than undermine it. 

The powerful technology shouldn’t “exacerbate already very severe competition” over strategic geopolitical issues either, she said.

In his remarks, UNIDIR Director Robin Geiss highlighted how AI infrastructure is becoming a strategic geo-security issue, particularly regarding data centres and cloud services.

The top UN disarmament official highlighted the need to protect civilian infrastructure from threats, amid growing reports that AI-enabled applications are used in conflicts, including in intelligence analysis and autonomous and unmanned systems.

Mr. Geiss warned that AI governance risks fragmenting unless governments, industry, researchers, technical experts, civil society and humanitarian actors develop shared language and practical approaches.

Freedom of expression left us with a media ‘desert’, insists independent expert 

Staying with technology issues, a leading independent rights expert took aim at digital tech on Thursday, accusing it of being responsible for a “media desert” in parts of the world today.

Without naming countries, freedom of expression Special Rapporteur Irene Khan insisted that many States use digital technology to suppress dissent, while corporate giants manipulate the online space for profit.

“A very small number of big tech companies and oligarchs are actually making decisions that affect the human rights of billions of people around the world…with no accountability through a democratic process,” maintained Ms. Khan, who is not a UN staff member and reports to the Human Rights Council in an independent capacity.

She credited the digital revolution with bringing transformative change – albeit “at a huge cost”.

That cost “is actually being borne by ordinary people, women who’ve been attacked online (and) children who feel endangered” and whose health and safety have been harmed by online abuse, the independent expert said. 

On press freedom, Ms. Khan insisted that journalists have suffered the same hate-filled treatment online too, while governments talk up the economic potential of AI but downplay its risks.

Daniel Johnson, UN News