Iranian President criticizes Trump in UN speech amid rising tensions
Iranian President criticizes Trump in UN speech amid rising tensions
Updated at: September 24, 2026 at 01:30 AM
In a dramatic display of escalating tensions, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian delivered a defiant speech at the United Nations General Assembly on September 23, 2026.
Addressing the 81st session during an ongoing seven-month conflict between the U.S. and Iran, Pezeshkian directly challenged U.S.
The speech followed a provocative statement from President Trump, who had threatened to annihilate Iran if a peace deal was not finalized.
In response, Pezeshkian rejected labels of his country as a 'terrorist' state.
He provided a harrowing visual rebuttal, holding up photographs of Iranian schoolchildren allegedly killed in joint U.S. and Israeli airstrikes, framing Iran as the victim of aggression.
Despite his sharp condemnation of what he termed 'bullying' and 'the language of force,' Pezeshkian maintained that Tehran remained open to diplomacy.
He reaffirmed that Iran's nuclear program is strictly peaceful and refused to submit to U.S. pressure.
