Iran’s president to speak at the United Nations in rare wartime address

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian delivered a defiant speech at the United Nations on Wednesday, refusing to yield to the United States but remaining open to diplomacy. The address came a day after President Donald Trump threatened to "annihilate" Iran if a deal was not reached to end the conflict. Pezeshkian emphasized that Iranians had been victims of US attacks, holding up photographs of late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and over 150 Iranian schoolchildren killed in the early days of the war.

He stated, "We have only defended ourselves. We are not terrorists," and added, "Yes, they did hit us, but we did not bend the knee." Pezeshkian reiterated that Iran is ready for dialogue and diplomacy without accepting the language of force. He also addressed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route that has become a central point of tension during the war, stating that everyone benefits from it while Iran is denied access. The US delegation reportedly walked out at the start of Pezeshkian's speech.