Pezeshkian at UNGA defies Trump, says Iran will not bow to US pressure

Iran will not bow to US pressure, and Tehran remains committed to diplomacy and negotiations without accepting the language of force, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday.

Pezeshkian’s address came a day after US President Donald Trump used his UNGA speech to issue a warning to Iran and call for its economic isolation, threatening to “annihilate the Islamic Republic.” Reuters reported that Pezeshkian’s speech reaffirmed Tehran’s position that it would not surrender while keeping open the possibility of diplomacy.

The Iranian president focused much of his address on the US war on Iran, the Israeli occupation’s actions against Gaza, Iran’s nuclear program, regional security, and double standards in the international system.

He rejected accusations that Iran is a source of regional instability, arguing that Tehran has acted in self-defense and does not seek military power for aggression or hegemony.

‘We have only defended ourselves’

Pezeshkian opened his address by rejecting the characterization of Iran as “terrorist”, saying that Iranians have themselves been victims of US and Israeli terrorism and aggression.

He carried pictures showing students from Minab and Lamerd who were killed by US-Israeli airstrikes on the Islamic Republic, commemorating them in his speech alongside martyred Iranian Leader Sayyed Ali Khamenei, whose picture he also held.

He referred to attacks on Iranian cities and facilities, including a strike on a school in Minab and a sports hall in Lamerd where children were present. He said Iranian scientists, civilians, and children had been killed in attacks carried out with US and Israeli weapons.

“Those who are terrorists and train and protect terrorists describe us as such. We have only defended ourselves. We are not terrorists,” Pezeshkian said.

He accused the United States and the Israeli occupation of targeting Iranian universities, healthcare centers, schools, hospitals, and infrastructure, describing such attacks as violations of international law.

Pezeshkian also recalled the assassination of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on the day of his presidential inauguration, saying the incident demonstrated the threats facing Iran.

Turning to Gaza, he said more than 80,000 civilians had been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced, accusing the Israeli occupation of committing genocide while those who resist it are labeled “terrorists”.

Iran defends its right to peaceful nuclear technology

A central part of Pezeshkian’s address focused on Iran’s nuclear program.

He said Tehran seeks nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, including medicine, agriculture, industry, and electricity generation, rejecting restrictions that would prevent Iran from developing such capabilities.

“Iran does not accept for nuclear technology to be at the exclusive disposal of some, of a handful,” he said. “We will not, we will not bow our head and give up the right that is inherently ours. We say it clearly, no nuclear weapons and no limitations to peaceful nuclear technology.”

Pezeshkian maintained that Iran does not seek nuclear weapons while insisting that its right to peaceful nuclear technology should not be restricted.

He also framed Iran’s military capabilities as defensive, arguing that Tehran needs sufficient strength to deter attacks against its territory.

“Iran must be powerful so as to avoid being threatened, to avoid its future being threatened,” he said, adding that Tehran does not seek hegemony or security at the expense of other countries.

Justice for Palestine key to Lasting peace in West Asia

The Iranian president devoted a significant portion of his speech to Palestine, describing Gaza as evidence of the failure of international mechanisms to prevent civilian suffering.

“Palestine remains an open wound on the conscience of the international community and Gaza remains a symbol of the failure of international mechanisms to prevent civilian suffering,” Pezeshkian said.

He argued that lasting peace in West Asia cannot be achieved without justice for Palestinians, linking the continuation of resistance to the persistence of occupation, aggression, and displacement.

“Lasting peace in West Asia is impossible without justice for Palestine,” he said. “As long as occupation, aggression and injustice persist in the world, resistance will continue.”

Pezeshkian also rejected the notion that resistance could be eliminated through military force, arguing that Palestinians would continue resisting attempts to remove them from their land.

He called for regional issues to be addressed by countries in the region rather than through the intervention of outside powers.

Iran calls for regional security, diplomacy

Addressing regional relations, the Iranian president said Iran does not regard neighboring countries as security rivals and instead wants strong neighbors and regional cooperation.

On the Strait of Hormuz, he said Iran could not accept a situation in which outside powers benefited from the waterway while using it to impose military pressure and insecurity on Iran.

“We will not succumb to that. The expansion of warfare will not result in security,” he said.

His remarks came amid heightened tensions surrounding the strategic waterway and the wider US war on Iran. Iran has previously signaled that the Strait of Hormuz could form part of discussions over de-escalation if US military and economic pressure is reduced and the blockade is lifted.

Pezeshkian said regional security cannot be achieved by one country alone, arguing that neighboring states must cooperate to establish a broader security framework.

Iran remains open to negotiations

The Iranian president also directly addressed those responsible for aggression against Iran, saying Tehran had demonstrated that it could not be forced into surrender.

“Iran has never, ever been an aggressor, has never started a war, and has always shown her commitment to the negotiating table,” Pezeshkian said.

He stressed that Iran would continue defending itself while maintaining its readiness for diplomacy.

Addressing Trump directly, Pezeshkian said Iran was prepared to engage in dialogueand negotiations but would not accept negotiations conducted under military pressure.

“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,” he said.

The speech came as Iranian and US officials were communicating indirectly through mediators on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Reuters reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner communicated through mediators on Wednesday, marking the first such contacts in months.

Pezeshkian concluded by calling for an international order based on equal rights, justice, human dignity, and the rejection of double standards.

“A peace that does not encompass all is no peace and fairness and justice that does not embrace all is not worthy of being called justice and fairness,” he said.