UN reforms can’t wait any longer, Kazakhstan’s Tokayev says amid fragile Iran truce

AdvertisementUS, Israel war on IranThis Week in AsiaPoliticsUN reforms can’t wait any longer, Kazakhstan’s Tokayev says amid fragile Iran trucePresident Tokayev told the Antalya Diplomacy Forum that multilateralism is being undermined as major decisions move outside the UN framework 3-MIN READ3-MIN ListenBiman MukherjiPublished: 7:43pm, 17 Apr 2026Updated: 7:49pm, 17 Apr 2026Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said on Friday that the war in Iran had laid bare the urgency of long-delayed UN reforms, arguing that the world body must be strengthened if multilateral diplomacy is to help restore global peace and security.“We have been talking about that for a long time, but only talking happens,” Tokayev told the fifth Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey. “Everybody is feeling the impact of the Iran war and everybody is suffering.” At the three-day summit ending on Sunday, he underscored that major diplomatic decisions were increasingly being made outside the UN even as its role remained essential. AdvertisementAccording to Turkish media, delegations from more than 150 countries – including more than 20 heads of state and government, about 15 vice-presidents and dozens of ministers – will attend this year’s conclave. Tokayev praised host Turkey for showing restraint and acting responsibly to prevent conflicts. AdvertisementKazakhstan has taken an active role in attempting to facilitate peace and de-escalate tensions in the US-Israeli war on Iran while maintaining a neutral stance on the conflict that has disrupted oil and gas supplies worldwide. It has also expressed its readiness to host peace negotiations. AdvertisementSelect VoiceSelect Speed0.8x0.9x1.0x1.1x1.2x1.5x1.75x00:0000:001.00x