TEHRAN – In his second speech to the UN General Assembly since taking office in 2024, Iranian President Masuud Pezeshkian said the US-Israel war imposed on Iran earlier this year was a “major diplomatic betrayal” and undermined the prospects of regional peace.
Pezeshkian said the recent attacks on Iran were not isolated events, but rather part of a Western-supported pattern of attacks designed to undermine the country’s sovereignty. The president lifted a book entitled “Slayed by Israel,” and turned pages showing some of the more than 1,000 children, women and men killed during Israeli attacks on Israeli, military and nuclear infrastructure.
“These attacks were carried out accurately as Iran engaged in diplomatic negotiations and exposed the hypocrisy of his enemy,” he said. “This brave attack has hit international trust a lot.”
Pezeshkian linked illegal attacks on Iran to the ongoing crisis in Gaza, pointing to Israeli committing genocide in Palestinian enclaves with full Western support. “The world has spent the last two years witnessing Gaza genocide, forced starvation of frail children and the massacre of over 65,000 innocent people.”
Turning his criticism towards Europe, the president blamed Germany, France and the UK and said he acted on Washington’s order to illegally revive UN sanctions on death against Iran. He puts goodwill aside, accusing Iran of circumcising and engaging in blatant abuse after failing to kneel through 10 years of “malicious” and support for military aggression.
“This illegal act… lacks international legitimacy and is not welcomed by the international community,” he declared, describing the move as a hopeless attempt to destroy the nuclear deal (JCPOA) he once celebrated.
Regarding Iran’s nuclear program, Pezeshkian reiterated a statement made a day ago by Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Revolution. “I declare once more… I declare that Iran has never sought nuclear weapons and will never try to build them,” he said. He contrasted this with a nuclear-armed state that has “the biggest Arsenal” while denounced Iran.
The president juxtaposed Israel’s “Divine Plan for Greater Israel” and arranged Iran’s alternative vision for the region. He clarified a future built on “power through peace.” It was not equivalent to aggression, but rather equated with “through peace.” He said the vision is based on collective security, human dignity, shared equitable resources and unwavering respect for national sovereignty.
Pezeshkian also expresses Iran’s support for regional peace initiatives, including processes between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and hopes to end the war in Ukraine. He welcomed the recent defence agreement between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan as a potential foundation for a broader regional security structure led by the Islamic State.
The president, who has been turned to heart surgeon, concluded his speech with the words of Saadi, a famous Persian poet.