Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian defies Donald Trump at UN in New York as US delegation walks out of speech
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has condemned US attacks on what he described as civilian targets during the early stages of the Iran war.
Iran will not surrender in the war with the United States but believes in diplomacy to try to end the conflict, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has told an annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations.
The United States delegation walked out at the start of Pezeshkian’s speech.
The US mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The Strait of Hormuz, conduit for a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas before the war, has become a focus of tensions between Iran and the US.
“It cannot be the case that everyone benefits from the Strait of Hormuz while we are denied access to shipping through this waterway. The permanent deployment of hostile fleets and the expansion of the war will not lead to peace,” Pezeshkian said.
Pezeshkian also said the Iranian people have been “victims of terrorism” by the US.
He condemned US attacks on what he described as civilian targets during the early stages of the Iran war, including a girls’ school and a sports complex in the south of the country.
He held up photos of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the more than 150 school children killed on the first days of the war.
“We have only defended ourselves. We are not terrorists,” Pezeshkian said at the General Assembly.
“Our innocent people have been the targets of cowardly attacks and aggressions imposed upon our country. And we defended ourselves with utmost strength. America and Israel attacked us.”
He added of the United States: “Yes they did hit us but we did not bend the knee.”
Pezeshkian addressed the 193-member General Assembly a day after US President Donald Trump spoke.
Mr Trump used his speech on Tuesday to make the case for his war on Iran, arguing he has prevented the country’s authorities from obtaining a nuclear weapon and warning that he could “annihilate the Islamic Republic” if no deal is reached to end the conflict.
Mr Trump told reporters that his chief envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, met for about three hours with the Iranian officials on the sidelines of the gathering.
But he offered few details about how the discussions transpired or the substance of the exchange.
“It was a very good meeting,” Mr Trump said.
Also on Tuesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Mr Trump is open to meeting with Pezeshkian while he is in New York.
with AP and DPA
