Iran will never bow down, Pezeshkian says in UN speech
During the speech, Masoud Pezeshkian held up a picture of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — Reuters.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, making strong accusations against the United States and Israel. During his speech, he held up photographs of the late former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Iranian schoolchildren killed in attacks. Pezeshkian said Iran would never bow down. At one point, the only US representative in the assembly hall walked out when civilian casualties were mentioned.
In his speech, Pezeshkian portrayed Iran as a victim of aggression by the United States and Israel and said his country would remain firm in its position. He said, “Iran must become stronger to avoid threats and protect the country’s future from being put at risk. Our defence system has been designed so that no one can think they can bomb Iranian cities and get away without accountability.”
The Iranian president said his country does not want nuclear weapons. However, he said Iran would not accept any restrictions on its civilian nuclear programme.
Tehran and Washington have been at odds for years over Iran’s nuclear programme. Iran insists that any agreement must allow it to enrich uranium for medical research and electricity generation. Washington, however, opposes any form of uranium enrichment.
Pezeshkian holds up photos of Iranian schoolchildren killed in the attack — Reuters
Pezeshkian said, “Peaceful nuclear technology is part of our natural progress as a country.”
He also reiterated Iran’s longstanding demand for the withdrawal of US military forces from the Middle East. Pezeshkian said, “Our regional problems must be resolved by the countries of this region, within the region itself. We must not become pawns in the games of outside powers.”
Before the war, the Strait of Hormuz was a route for transporting one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG). The strategically important waterway has now become one of the main flashpoints of tensions between Iran and the United States.
Pezeshkian said in his speech, “It cannot be that everyone benefits from the Strait of Hormuz while we are denied the opportunity to have ships pass through this waterway. The permanent deployment of hostile naval fleets and the expansion of war will not bring peace.”
Pezeshkian also criticised Israel’s attacks on Iran. Israel has featured prominently in the speeches of almost all Middle Eastern leaders who have addressed the General Assembly so far. They have expressed anger over Israeli military operations against Palestinians as well as Israeli attacks in Iran, Lebanon and Syria.
Pezeshkian also suggested that there are double standards within the international community. He said, “Israel kills, but Iran is sanctioned. This is truly a tragedy that, when heard, the only possible reaction is for someone to laugh.”
Towards the end of his speech, Pezeshkian said, “We will never bow down or kneel. We are ready for dialogue, diplomacy and negotiations. But we will never accept the language of force.”
Pezeshkian also claimed that Iranians had been holding demonstrations in support of their country “every night” for the past seven months.
Pezeshkian addressed the 193-member General Assembly a day after US President Donald Trump’s speech. In his address on Tuesday, Trump argued in favour of war against Iran. He claimed that he had prevented Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and warned that he could “wipe out the Islamic Republic” if no agreement was reached to end the conflict.
