Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi took to X in New York, the heart of the 81st UN General Assembly, and shared a meme that juxtaposes Marvel’s Doctor Strange, with his mythical multiple arms, against Bollywood’s Thakur Baldev Singh, a hand‑less hero from 1975’s Sholay. The image, captioned ‘UN according to school books’ on the left and ‘UN in reality’ on the right, became an instant viral comment on the United Nations’ perceived impotence amid escalating conflicts.
Araghchi, speaking directly to UN Secretary‑General António Guterres, slammed the body’s so‑called indifference toward alleged violations of the UN Charter by Washington and Israeli forces. He demanded an explicit condemnation of the US’s alleged interventionist measures and “illegal threats” against Iran, calling on the UN to take a firm stand against a permanent Security‑Council member.
The criticism comes as Iran has intensified its rhetoric, threatening to target infrastructure in the Middle East while awaiting a formal response to its proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Washington has dismissed Tehran’s offer, but Iranian officials insist a reply from American officials is expected within a day. The standoff has left shipping lanes in the strait vulnerable, and the U.S. has resorted to an economic pressure campaign instead of further military action.
On the sidelines, a Tehran merchant who has watched the crisis unfold from his shop in the old bazaar recalls the tension that grips the city whenever Tehran’s rhetoric spikes. He says the country’s future hinges on whether the UN can finally move beyond symbolic gestures and deliver a hard‑line response to the US’s alleged breaches of international law.
The United Nations General Assembly is slated to debate the issue in the coming week, with diplomats from around the world poised to weigh in on Araghchi’s accusations and the broader question of the UN’s role in contemporary conflicts.