"Mr. Annan said he believes that “direct negotiations with the Hidden Imam can defuse all of this talk of the end of the world, which I’m confident is nothing more than a bargaining chip.”

In any case, the world’s end is expected to have little effect on the work of the United Nations, according to Mr. Annan.

“The U.N. will continue to be just as effective at resolving conflicts and ensuring world peace as it was before the end of the world,” he said."