At the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian criticized the United States, claiming that his country is being bullied and emphasizing that Iran will never abandon its nuclear program.
According to reports from the Financial Times and other foreign media on the 23rd, President Pezeshkian stated in his UN speech, "We are ready to talk with the U.S., but we cannot accept a language of force." He accused U.S. President Donald Trump of bullying Iran, asserting, "We need strength. A country that cannot defend itself will be trampled." Pezeshkian also described Iran as a "victim of terrorism," highlighting that "our respected Supreme Leader was assassinated without any legal basis, and schools have been bombed."
In his speech, President Pezeshkian defended Iran's nuclear program, stating, "Israel has atomic bombs, but UN inspectors are in Iran. Israel commits murder, and we face sanctions." He added, "Iran cannot accept that nuclear energy is a monopoly of a few countries; Iran has an equal right to it." The day before, on the 22nd, President Trump publicly warned during his UN speech that Iran could either negotiate with the U.S. to become a great nation or face destruction.
Notably, during President Pezeshkian's speech, the U.S. delegation walked out. As Pezeshkian began his address, he held up a photo of children, accusing, "They died from bombs used by the U.S. and Israel." According to The Hill, the U.S. UN delegation left the meeting room immediately after Pezeshkian started speaking. The media noted that this walkout occurred the day after the Iranian and Cuban delegations left during President Trump's speech.
Amid the harsh exchanges between the two leaders, their delegations are engaged in negotiations to end the war. U.S. media outlet Axios reported that on the 22nd, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and other members of the Iranian UN delegation. President Trump described the meeting as "very productive," stating, "Steve and Jared had a lot of momentum to finalize negotiations with the Iranian mediators."
Iran's state television also reported that the meeting was held at the request of the U.S. side to convey Iran's conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Axios noted that the UN General Assembly is a rare breakthrough in the seven-month stalemate of the Iran war, marking the first meeting between the two countries since mid-June.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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