Speaking at the UN General Assembly’s annual gathering of world leaders this Tuesday, Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian addressed a variety of issues, including nuclear negotiation and Israel’s invasion of Gaza.
Iran’s new president Masoud Pezeshkian delivered his speech at the UN General Assembly’s annual gathering of world leaders this Tuesday.
In his speech, Pezeshkian declared Iran’s willingness to open a “constructive” chapter in the country’s international relations, but made it clear as well that everyone else, including the United States, should to do their part.
“I aim to lay a strong foundation for my country’s entry into a new era, positioning it to play an effective and constructive role in the evolving global order,” Pezeshkian said in his first speech at the UN General Assembly.
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, also showed a green light to resuming negotiations and said last month that there was “no harm” for Iran in engaging with its “enemy.” The United States, under former President Donald Trump, pulled out in 2018 from Iran’s deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Iran always opposes war, Iran’s president asserted
“We seek peace for all and have no intention of conflict with any country … Iran opposes war and emphasizes on the need for an immediate cessation of military conflict in Ukraine. We are ready to engage with participants of the 2015 nuclear deal. If the deal’s commitments are implemented fully and in good faith, dialogue on other issues can follow,” Pezeshkian also said.
Pezeshkian also denied any allegations regarding Iran trying to use nuclear energy for military purposes. He used the UNGA podium to repeat Iran’s longstanding demand of a world free of nuclear weapons and the West Asia region free of weapons of mass destruction without any preconditions.
“As a victim of terrorism, we have always been a pioneer in the fight against this sinister phenomenon and we are ready to cooperate with countries that are looking for a real fight against terrorism,” Pezeshkian stressed.
Israel is a ‘colonialist’ entity, Pezeshkian said
Pezeshkian also addressed the ongoing war in Gaza and strongly criticized Israel for it. He accused Israel of “atrocities,” “colonialism,” “crimes against humanity” and “desperate barbarism” as it fights Hamas in Gaza and exchanges fire with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Israel’s heavy bombardment of Lebanon in recent days “cannot go unanswered,” he said, adding also that consequences would be borne by governments he described as thwarting efforts to end the “catastrophe” in the Middle East while calling themselves champions of human rights, an apparent reference to the United States and allied Western powers.
Pezeshkian also directly addressed the American people, and said that Iran’s new president listed a number of Iranian hardships, including heavy and devastating sanctions imposed on Iran by the US government and the 2020 killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in a US drone strike during the presidency of Donald Trump.
“We have the opportunity to transcend these limitations and enter into a new era. This era will commence with the acknowledgement of Iran’s security concerns and cooperation on mutual challenges,” he said, appealing anew for sanctions relief.
“I hope that this message from Iran is carefully heard today,” the new president concluded. There was no immediate response from the US or Israel.
