Coming on the eve of the first anniversary of the brutal war, support for Kyiv was little-changed from that of last October when 143 countries voted to condemn Russia's declared annexation of four Ukraine regions.

"While pregnancy should be a time of immense hope and a positive experience for all women, it is tragically still a shockingly dangerous experience for millions around the world," said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

According to human rights officials, the embargo prevents Iranians with a hereditary illness from receiving critical medical care.

The visit follows the weekend slaying of a former Afghan lawmaker who was killed at her home in Kabul, a murder that "shocked" Guterres, another spokesperson said.

The United Nations said Thursday it would not stop providing help to Afghanistan despite the Taliban ban on women working in the country's aid sector.