Iranian President Pezeshkian will address the UN General Assembly today: What to expect from his speech | Today’s news
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is scheduled to address the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday (23 September), where Tehran is seeking to present its position on the nearly seven-month war between the US and Iran and push for diplomacy amid renewed contacts between the two sides.
Pezeshkian arrived in New York late on Tuesday ahead of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. Iranian state media reported his arrival, while he said before departing Tehran that he would “firmly defend” Iran’s positions in international forums and take the opportunity to tell the international community what he described as Iran’s dire situation.
His speech comes a day after US President Donald Trump addressed the General Assembly and said he faced a choice between reaching a deal with Iran or taking further military action against the Islamic Republic.
Pezeshkian’s UNGA speech: What to expect
Pezeshkian is expected to focus on Iran’s account of the conflict, which Tehran describes as crimes committed against the country and a breakdown of trust in international institutions.
Before leaving Iran, Pezeshkian said that Tehran had repeatedly opened negotiations and signed agreements, but accused other parties of not honoring their commitments. He also called for an end to war and bloodshed.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi similarly made “trust” the central theme of Tehran’s message to the UN General Assembly, saying that Iran had lost faith in the international organization, which it believed had come under the influence of Western countries.
Pezeshkian’s appearance will also mark a significant diplomatic moment: his speech comes while Iran remains in active conflict with the United States, making his presence at the United Nations in New York particularly noteworthy.
Trump threatens action, says Iran deal still possible
Pezeshkian’s speech follows Trump’s address to the United Nations on Tuesday, in which the US president said he had to make a “big decision” on Iran.
Trump said he could either reach a deal that would allow Iran to restore or “destroy the Islamic Republic” if a settlement was not reached. He also said he believed a deal could eventually be reached after the US midterm elections.
Trump insists Iran must not get a nuclear weapon and has called on Tehran to return to negotiations and fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Most members of the Iranian delegation walked out of the UN chamber during Trump’s speech, according to reports.
US-Iran negotiations continue on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly
The harsh rhetoric coincided with renewed indirect diplomatic contacts.
US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held talks with Iranian officials through mediators in New York, with Trump later calling the talks productive and saying there was momentum for a possible deal.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Tehran communicated its terms through Qatari mediation. These include an end to the war and what Iran describes as US acts of aggression.
The discussions were indirect rather than face-to-face between Araghchi and Witkoff. Iranian officials said Araghchi met with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who had played the role of mediator in previous talks.
The key issue remains the Strait of Hormuz
Diplomatic efforts are unfolding alongside continued disruption around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy supplies.
Iran continues to demand that Washington lift the blockade of Iranian ports and release frozen Iranian assets. Tehran has also linked the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to the lifting of the blockade.
The dispute over the waterway has increased pressure on global energy markets, making the US-Iran negotiations important not only for the conflict itself, but also for oil and shipping flows.
Pezeshkian meetings in New York
During his stay in New York, Pezeshkian is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with other heads of state and meet with Iranian-Americans, American academics and think tanks.
His appearance at the UN General Assembly therefore comes at the crossroads of two events: Tehran’s efforts to present its case to the international community and renewed indirect diplomacy with Washington.
The UN General Assembly high-level debate takes place from 22 to 26 September, with the next session scheduled for 28 September.
Read also | Netanyahu vs Mamdani explodes in front of UNGA: “I will tell the truth about you”
