Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed the UN General Assembly on September 23, 2026, delivering a rare wartime speech. He accused the United States of terrorism and aggression against his country. Pezeshkian held up photos of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and over 150 schoolchildren killed in the early days of the war. He emphasized that Iran has only defended itself and is not a terrorist entity.
Pezeshkian's speech came in response to US President Donald Trump's comments at the same forum the previous day. Trump suggested that he could "annihilate" Iran if a deal isn't reached soon to end the nearly seven-month war. The Iranian president stated that America and Israel have attacked his country, but Iran did not bend the knee. He also mentioned that US and Iranian officials had an indirect meeting on the sidelines of the General Assembly.
The indirect talks between US and Iranian officials were facilitated by Qatari mediators. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated that the talks did not yield anything new. He emphasized that Iran demands the US end its blockade of Iranian ports and release frozen Iranian assets. These negotiations are part of a long-standing effort to find a sustainable solution between the two adversaries.
Pezeshkian's address at the UN General Assembly highlighted the ongoing tensions between Iran and the US. The Strait of Hormuz, off Iran's coast, has seen intermittent attacks, and commercial shipping remains below pre-war levels. The Iranian president's speech also comes after a 12-day Israel-Iran war last year that resulted in the assassination of many of Iran's highest military and political leaders.
In his previous year's address, Pezeshkian condemned the savage aggression against his country in June. He described it as a flagrant contravention of international law. The Iranian president's speeches at the UN General Assembly reflect the country's stance on its ongoing conflicts and negotiations with the US.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that President Trump is open to meeting with Pezeshkian while in New York. However, the Iranian president's speech did not indicate a willingness to engage in direct talks with the US without conditions. Pezeshkian's address emphasized Iran's resilience in the face of aggression and its determination to defend itself.
The meeting between Trump's chief envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, and Iranian officials lasted about three hours. However, few details were provided about the discussions or the substance of the exchange. The Iranian president's speech at the UN General Assembly has set the tone for Iran's stance on the ongoing conflicts and negotiations with the US.
Key points
- Iran's President Pezeshkian accuses the US of terrorism and aggression against his country in a wartime address at the UN General Assembly.
- The Iranian president emphasizes that his country has only defended itself and is not a terrorist entity.
- Pezeshkian's speech comes amid ongoing tensions between Iran and the US, with intermittent attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and commercial shipping below pre-war levels.
