UN Chief Disappointed as NPT Review Conference Ends Without Consensus

May 23, 2026

New Delhi, May 23: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed disappointment over the inconclusive outcome of the 11th Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). He lamented that the “conference failed to achieve its objectives.”

The 11th Review Conference concluded on Friday without any agreement. Following the event, Guterres’s spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, issued a statement quoting the Secretary-General. Guterres welcomed the participation of member states but regretted that the conference did not fulfill its purpose, especially at a time when serious challenges to international security are emerging.

He urged all nations to utilize every possible avenue of “dialogue and diplomacy” to reduce tensions and nuclear risks. Guterres emphasized that a world free of nuclear weapons remains the UN’s highest disarmament priority.

Earlier, Iran accused the United States of sabotaging nuclear talks at the UN. Tehran claimed that its more stringent demands had led to a breakdown in discussions regarding the NPT.

Iran’s permanent mission to the UN shared this information on the social media platform X. They stated that “excessive demands from the U.S. have pushed the NPT towards collapse.” The mission added that the obstructive policies of the U.S. and its allies have resulted in the NPT Review Conference failing for the third consecutive time.

Iran firmly believes that the U.S. was using this meeting to exert pressure on its nuclear program, which hindered progress in negotiations.

A significant international conference aimed at preventing nuclear weapons and maintaining global peace was held at the UN. The conference commenced on April 27 at the UN headquarters in New York, with participation from numerous countries. Its objectives included preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons, reducing tensions between nations, and ensuring global safety from nuclear threats.

The NPT is an international treaty designed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, promote nuclear disarmament, and facilitate the peaceful use of nuclear energy.