Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Wednesday at the United Nations that Iran was ready for negotiations to end the conflict with the U.S. but warned that Tehran would never surrender to what he called Washington's bullying, or give up its nuclear program.
Pezeshkian's remarks during the U.N. General Assembly came during a protracted stalemate between the U.S. and Iran, with Washington seeking to choke off Iran's economy through a naval blockade and sanctions while Tehran continues striking at commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and regional infrastructure.
Sporadic direct fighting between Iran and the U.S. has continued since an interim deal in June quickly fell apart. Speaking at the U.N. on Tuesday, President Trump threatened to "annihilate" Iran if it didn't soon strike a deal, calling its leaders terrorists.
In his speech, Pezeshkian responded directly to the U.S. president.
"Iran must be understood by Mr. Trump and those who seek to bully us: that we are ready for dialogue and diplomacy and negotiations without accepting the language of force," the Iranian president said in Wednesday's speech.
Pezeshkian said Iran won't give up its right to pursue its nuclear program, which he said was purely peaceful and not aimed at building nuclear weapons.
"Iran does not accept for nuclear technology to be at the exclusive disposal of some or a handful. We will not bow our head and give up the right that is inherently ours," he said.
Pezeshkian accused the U.S. of hypocrisy for placing no pressure on Israel for possessing nuclear weapons while the U.S. demands Iran be subject to constant nuclear inspections. Iran has not accepted inspections of its core nuclear sites since they were bombed in June 2024. Israel neither confirms nor denies that it has nuclear weapons.
Pezeshkian, who has been in office since 2024 but is not considered one of the key powerholders in the Iranian regime, brandished at the podium pictures he said were of the girls killed in this year's attacks by the U.S. and Israel at the Minab school. He accused the U.S. and Israel of stoking terrorism and instability in the region.
?His speech drew only a moderate number of diplomats to the General Assembly hall, with no sign of top American or Israeli representatives in attendance. A few moments into the 18-minute speech, the single official at the U.S.'s seat exited.
