United Nations Security Council

The Security Council is the legal engine that makes a multinational force possible—or contested. - Provided legal authorization framework for ISF and BoP

A Gaza force is being designed like it's real—but the December 16 Doha conference exposed how unreal it remains. U.S. Central Command convened more than 40 countries to game out command structure, basing, and rules of engagement for a proposed U.N.-authorized International Stabilization Force, but attendees failed to agree on the force's mandate or composition. Italy is the only country to have formally committed troops. Fifteen invited nations declined to attend, and Turkey was excluded at Israel's insistence—a sign that coalition-building is entangled with regional politics before a single soldier deploys.

Updated Feb 16

The UN's principal body for maintaining international peace and security. - No new meetings since January 15

Bazaar merchants bankrolled Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution. Now they're in the streets demanding its end. What began December 28 as protests over the rial's collapse to record lows escalated into the largest uprising in the Islamic Republic's 46-year history—spreading to all 31 provinces and uniting working-class laborers, students, and merchants in calls for regime change. The death toll remains highly disputed: activist groups have verified at least 6,100 killed, while leaked government documents suggest 27,500-36,500 deaths. By January 17, the regime had reestablished control through unprecedented force, killing an estimated 147 security personnel in the process.

Updated Jan 31

The UN's primary body responsible for international peace and security, with five permanent members holding veto power. - Held emergency session; no resolution issued

The Islamic Republic has survived four decades of protests—but never anything like this. What began on December 28 as Tehran bazaar merchants protesting a collapsing currency became Iran's largest uprising since the 1979 revolution, with demonstrations reported in all 31 provinces. The government responded with an internet blackout and live ammunition. On January 21, Iran issued its first official death toll: 3,117 killed. Independent monitors report dramatically higher figures—the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency documented at least 5,002 deaths as of January 23, while a network of Iranian doctors estimates 16,500-18,000 killed and 330,000 injured, making this potentially the deadliest crackdown in modern Iranian history.

Updated Jan 23