Pezeshkian leaves New York for Tehran after UNGA speech, meetings

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has left New York for Tehran after attending the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Pezeshkian delivered his main speech at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, addressing the US-Israeli aggression against Iran, regional developments, and Tehran’s nuclear program.

Addressing the Strait of Hormuz, he said Iran could not allow countries to use the waterway while simultaneously using it to carry out “aggressions upon us.”

He warned against international double standards, saying, “The nuclear weapon is in Israel, but the inspectors are in Iran. Israel kills, yet Iran is subject to sanctions.”

Responding to pressure and threats against Iran, the president said, “The resistance of the Iranian people will only increase in the face of sanctions, increased pressure, increased bullying.”

Pezeshkian also emphasized Tehran’s willingness to pursue diplomacy, telling the assembly, “We are ready for dialogue and diplomacy and negotiations, without accepting the language of force.”

During his stay in New York, the president held bilateral meetings with a number of foreign leaders and international officials, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

On Thursday, Pezeshkian met Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who expressed “deep concern” over the US-Israeli aggression against Iran and called for “restraint, de-escalation, and sustained diplomatic engagement.”

He also met Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar’s prime minister and foreign minister, on Thursday.

Pezeshkian met with American media executives, editors and journalists, as well as academics and experts from US think tanks.

He gave interviews to several television networks, including Fox News and CBS, as well as Qatar’s Al Jazeera, discussing Iran’s nuclear program, the aggression and prospects for diplomacy.

In his final program in New York, the president met with a group of Iranians living in the US on Friday evening and held a cordial discussion with them.