Iranian president rejects surrender and calls for diplomacy in UN speech
Masoud Pezeshkian used his UN General Assembly address to accuse the United States and Israel of attacking Iran and to portray Iranians as victims of terrorism. He said Iran would not surrender, while offering dialogue on terms that reject force and preserve Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear technology.
Key points
- Pezeshkian framed Iran as defending itself against US and Israeli attacks, and rejected descriptions of Iran as a terrorist state.
Evidence · 5 source statements
We have only defended ourselves.
America and Israel attacked us.
We have been the victims of terrorism,
- He paired defiance with an offer to negotiate, saying talks must not be conducted through force.
Evidence · 4 source statements
It 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,
it will never "bend the knee"
but is ready for a diplomatic solution to the conflict
we are ready for dialogue and diplomacy and negotiations without accepting the language of force,
- On nuclear policy, Pezeshkian denied seeking weapons, defended civilian nuclear technology as Iran’s right, and proposed an agreement to reassure the world while protecting Iran’s rights.
Evidence · 4 source statements
Iran does not accept restrictions on access to peaceful nuclear technology.
the issue of Iran's nuclear program must be resolved not on the battlefield, but through a mutual agreement that guarantees the rights of the people and the peaceful nature of…
Who's involved
Masoud Pezeshkian
Iran's president and the speaker at the General Assembly.
He said Iran was a victim of terrorism, blamed the United States and Israel for attacks, and said Iran would not surrender. He offered diplomacy without force and defended Iran's right to peaceful nuclear technology while denying that Iran sought nuclear weapons.
What they said · 7 source statements
It 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,
We will never bow our head or bend at the knee,
Iran does not accept restrictions on access to peaceful nuclear technology.
Donald Trump
The US president, whom Pezeshkian addressed in his remarks and who had issued a threat toward Iran.
Trump threatened to annihilate the Islamic Republic if a deal was not reached soon.
What they said · 1 source statement
"annihilate"
Marco Rubio
The US secretary of state, who criticized Iran's conduct in the region.
Rubio said Iran's sponsorship of groups attacking neighboring countries, energy infrastructure, and civilian sites violated the UN system.
What they said · 1 source statement
I think sponsoring terrorist organizations in the region to attack your neighbors, attack energy infrastructure, attack civilian sites is a violation of the UN system.
Anna Kelly
A White House spokesperson who gave the administration's account of Iran's conduct and US policy.
Kelly accused Iran's government of killing its own people and Americans, carrying out terrorism in the Strait of Hormuz, and attacking neighboring countries. She said Trump was working to ensure Iran never possessed a nuclear weapon.
What they said · 2 source statements
The Iranian regime has murdered thousands of its own people, killed Americans overseas, executed acts of terrorism in the Strait of Hormuz, and launched indiscriminate attacks…
The President is courageously ensuring that such an evil country never possesses a nuclear weapon, which will make the entire world safer and more stable,
Where accounts differ
Responsibility for violence and terrorism
- Pezeshkian said Iran was a victim of terrorism and that the United States and Israel had attacked Iran.
Evidence · 3 source statements
the Iranian people have been "victims of terrorism" by the United States and Israel
- US officials accused Iran of sponsoring attacks on neighbors, energy infrastructure, and civilians, and of carrying out attacks in the region.
Evidence · 2 source statements
I think sponsoring terrorist organizations in the region to attack your neighbors, attack energy infrastructure, attack civilian sites is a violation of the UN system.
The Iranian regime has murdered thousands of its own people, killed Americans overseas, executed acts of terrorism in the Strait of Hormuz, and launched indiscriminate attacks…
Iran's president and US officials offered sharply opposing accounts of who was responsible for violence and terrorism.
What was reported
- Pezeshkian addressed the UN General Assembly in New York during the war.
Reported independently by 2: Daily Jang, Iranian state media
Evidence · 2 source statements
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arriving late Tuesday, according to Iranian state media, to address the world body for the first time since the United States and Israel…
- In his speech, Pezeshkian said the United States and Israel had attacked Iran and that Iran had only defended itself.
One source: Yonhap News Agency
Evidence · 2 source statements
- Pezeshkian said Iran would not surrender but was ready for dialogue and negotiations without the use of force.
One source: France 24
Evidence · 2 source statements
It 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,
We will never bow our head or bend at the knee,
- Pezeshkian said Iran opposed limits on access to peaceful nuclear technology and proposed resolving the nuclear dispute through a mutual agreement.
One source: TASS
Evidence · 2 source statements
Iran does not accept restrictions on access to peaceful nuclear technology.
the issue of Iran's nuclear program must be resolved not on the battlefield, but through a mutual agreement that guarantees the rights of the people and the peaceful nature of…
- A US representative walked out during the address.
One source: Daily Jang
Evidence · 1 source statement
- Donald Trump had threatened to annihilate the Islamic Republic if a deal was not reached soon.
One source: BBC News
Evidence · 1 source statement
"annihilate"
How coverage differed
US-based coverage — Fox included US officials' accusations about Iran alongside Pezeshkian's remarks; NPR and PBS foregrounded his wartime address and response to Trump's threat.
UN News — Focused on Pezeshkian turning the terrorism accusation back on Iran's critics.
TASS — Foregrounded Pezeshkian's opposition to restrictions on peaceful nuclear technology and his proposal for a negotiated resolution.
Still unclear
- No agreement was announced.
- The speech's effect on negotiations was not given.
Not heard from
- Israel — Israel was directly accused by Pezeshkian of attacking Iran, but no Israeli statement appears in the coverage summarized here.
- Iranian civilians affected by the attacks — Pezeshkian referred to civilian deaths and attacks on schools, but affected civilians did not speak in the claims.