Pezeshkian tells UN Iran ready for talks but will not bow to U.S. pressure
Addressing world leaders in New York, Pezeshkian said a diplomatic settlement must allow Iran to use the Strait of Hormuz. He argued that other countries could not expect to benefit from the waterway while Iran was denied access.
The U.S. delegation walked out at the start of his address.
Pezeshkian also reaffirmed Tehran’s position that it does not seek nuclear weapons but would retain its right to develop civilian nuclear technology. He described peaceful nuclear applications as essential to healthcare, agriculture and industrial development.
During the speech, he displayed a photograph of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint U.S.-Israeli strike in February. He also showed photographs of children he said had been killed in attacks on a school and a sports hall, alongside images of their graves.
Pezeshkian maintained that Iran’s military actions had been defensive and denied that it had targeted civilian populations.
Earlier, Qazinform reported that U.S. President Donald Trump used his address to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday to warn Iran, propose a new name for artificial intelligence and criticize international efforts to shape national policies.