Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian delivered an address to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, accusing the United States and Israel of “savage aggression” and a “grave betrayal of diplomacy” for their military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities in June. He firmly reiterated Iran’s long-standing position on its nuclear program, declaring that Tehran has never and will never seek to build a nuclear bomb.
“I hereby declare once more before this assembly that Iran has never sought and will never seek to build a nuclear bomb,” President Pezeshkian stated, attributing this stance to a religious edict from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “We do not seek nuclear weapons. This is our belief.”
Pezeshkian, a reformist physician-turned-politician, used the global stage to frame Iran as a victim of unlawful aggression. He condemned the June airstrikes as a flagrant violation of international law and the UN Charter that occurred while Iran was actively engaged in diplomatic negotiations.
“This brazen aggression, in addition to murdering citizens, women, scientists, and intellectual elites of my country, inflicted a grievous blow upon the prospect of peace in the region,” he told the assembly of world leaders.
The Iranian president’s speech comes at a critical moment for his country, which is reeling from the brief but intense conflict in June, and the threat of new “snapback” of the UN sanctions from European powers at the UN Security Council.
Pezeshkian sought to counter the Western narrative, accusing the U.S. and its allies of a “double standard” by supporting Israel while punishing Iran. He held up a booklet containing photos and biographies of Iranian civilians, including scientists, women and children, who he said were killed in the attacks. He also fiercely condemned the genocide in Gaza, blaming Israel and its supporters for the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinians.
“My country was subjected to a savage aggression in flagrant contravention of the most elementary principles of international law,” he said, positioning Iran as a nation committed to “power through peace” and dialogue, but one that will not surrender its sovereignty or right to peaceful nuclear technology.
