Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian affirmed that his country has never been the initiator of war and has always demonstrated its commitment to the negotiating table, stressing that Iran stands to the last breath in defense of itself and does not evade negotiation for the sake of peace.
Pezeshkian said in his speech before the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday that Iran is a victim of terrorism, in response to the U.S. president describing it as terrorist, According to the Iranian Fars Agency.
He added: “I come from Iran whose leader was assassinated without any reason or legal evidence, and I come from Iran where a school was bombed. Look at the children of Minab, the children who were bombed and killed. Israel and America took the lives of our children with their weapons, and our children committed no sin.”
He continued: “Lamerd is a small city in Iran, our children were exercising in a gym, and America bombed this gym with cluster bombs that fragment into several thousand pieces. They took the lives of our scientists, our people, our women, and our children.”
Pezeshkian affirmed that “terrorists and sponsors of terrorism are pinning the charge of terrorism on us,” adding: “We only defended ourselves, and we are not terrorists.”
He said the war was imposed on Iran, and that it proved it does not fear war in defending itself, and does not want to use force to attack others.
He accused the United States and the Israeli enemy of attacking Iran and targeting schools, hospitals, scientific centers, bridges, and infrastructure, affirming that the Iranian people defended their country strongly and did not bow before the attacks, noting that his country did not target civilians.
He referred to the assassination of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, and the Israeli attacks on Gaza, saying that more than 80 thousand Palestinians were killed in the Strip, accusing “Israel” of committing genocide, and affirming that whoever kills civilians and commits crimes cannot accuse others of terrorism.
Pezeshkian stressed that the Iranian people are the source of his country’s strength, affirming that Iran wants strength to defend itself and not for hegemony, energy for development and not for making bombs, and participation to achieve security in the region.
On the nuclear file, he affirmed that Iran does not consider nuclear weapons a factor of security, but it will not give up its right to science, industry, and peaceful energy, saying: “No nuclear weapon and no deprivation of nuclear knowledge.”
He explained that the Iranian nuclear issue is not resolved on the battlefield, and that the solution is an agreement that guarantees the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program while preserving the rights of the Iranian people.
Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, Pezeshkian said that the security of navigation cannot be separated from the security of coastal states, criticizing Iran’s being deprived of using the waterway and freedom of navigation due to sanctions, and affirming that his country will not allow that to be repeated.
He affirmed that sustainable peace in West Asia is not possible without achieving justice for the Palestinian people, pointing out that Palestine remains an open wound in the conscience of the international community, and that resistance will continue as long as occupation, aggression, and injustice persist.
He called for resolving the region’s issues within it and by its own countries, warning against relations with external powers turning into a means of waging wars on neighboring countries.
He addressed those responsible for the attacks on Iran, affirming that the Iranian people have experienced war and withstood it, and that Iran cannot be forced to surrender through war, renewing the affirmation that his country did not start any war and is ready to negotiate for peace.
Pezeshkian criticized double standards in dealing with the nuclear file, pointing to “Israel” possessing nuclear weapons and not being a member of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, in contrast to demanding Iran accept inspections and sanctions.
He said Iran does not ask for a special privilege, but for equal rights, calling for not using human rights as a tool for geopolitical competition.
He affirmed that the world becomes more dangerous when international laws are applied according to the interests of the powerful, warning against the 21st century turning into an era governed by military force, sanctions, assassinations, and wars instead of legitimacy, diplomacy, and dialogue.
Pezeshkian concluded by affirming that Iran maintains its strength and calls for peace and justice, saying: “We are ready for dialogue, but let them know that we will not accept the language of force.”
