Iran’s President on Wednesday (September 23, 2026) said that his people have been “victims of terrorism” by the United States, delivering a rare wartime speech at the UN General Assembly a day after the U.S. President Donald Trump said he could “annihilate” the Islamic Republic.
In a defiant speech, President Masoud Pezeshkian held up large photos of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the more than 150 schoolchildren killed on the first days of the war.
We are not terrorists,” Mr. Pezeshkian said at the General Assembly.
The permanent deployment of hostile fleets and the expansion of the war will not lead to peace,” Mr. Pezeshkian said.
The President made no reference to the talks to resolve the stalled war in his steely speech.
Iran’s President on Wednesday (September 23, 2026) said that his people have been “victims of terrorism” by the United States, delivering a rare wartime speech at the UN General Assembly a day after the U.S. President Donald Trump said he could “annihilate” the Islamic Republic.
In a defiant speech, President Masoud Pezeshkian held up large photos of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the more than 150 schoolchildren killed on the first days of the war.
Iran will not surrender in the war with the United States, but believes in diplomacy to try to end the conflict, Mr. Pezeshkian said as the United States delegation walked out at the start of his speech. The U.S. mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“We have only defended ourselves. We are not terrorists,” Mr. Pezeshkian said at the General Assembly. “Our innocent people have been the targets of cowardly attacks and aggressions imposed upon our country. And we defended ourselves with utmost strength. America and Israel attacked us.”
He added about the United States: “Yes, they did hit us, but we did not bend the knee.” Toward the end of his speech, Mr. Pezeshkian called out Mr. Trump by name. “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,” he said.
The Strait of Hormuz, conduit for a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas before the war, has become a focus of tensions between Iran and the U.S. “It cannot be the case that everyone benefits from the Strait of Hormuz while we are denied access to shipping through this waterway. The permanent deployment of hostile fleets and the expansion of the war will not lead to peace,” Mr. Pezeshkian said.
The President made no reference to the talks to resolve the stalled war in his steely speech.
With AP, Reuters inputs
