Iran’s Pezeshkian accuses Israel of double standards on nuclear weapons at UN

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian denounced Israel's alleged possession of nuclear weapons while International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors are sent to monitor Iran's nuclear program during his Wednesday address at the UN General Assembly.

"The topic of this gathering is mutual trust. That cannot be achieved with words alone, but by abandoning double standards. Atomic and nuclear weapons are in the hands of the 'Israeli regime,' but the [IAEA] inspectors are requested to come to Iran," Pezeshkian said.

"Israel has the bombs, has the weapons of mass destruction. Not a member of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). During their shameful lives, they have not allowed a single inspection, but they are rewarded with all the means necessary to bomb any capital of the region at will," he said.

"Our regional issues must be resolved in the region; no relationship with a foreign power can become the tool of threatening countries in the region," he added.

"For our country, peaceful nuclear technology is part of our progress..."Iran does not accept nuclear technology to be at the disposal of a handful...We will not bow our head, and we say it clearly. No nuclear weapons, and no limitations to our peaceful nuclear development," the Iranian president said.

"Israel has murdered savagely over 70,000 civilians in Gaza, while Iran, behind the table of negotiation, was being bombed," he added.

"Palestine remains an open wound on the conscience of the international community, and Gaza remains a visible symbol of the failure of international mechanisms to prevent civilian suffering...For decades, resolutions have been adopted, and occupation has continued. Lasting peace in West Asia is impossible without justice for Palestine. As long as occupation, aggression, and injustice persist in the world, resistance will continue. If it's weakened in one form, it will reemerge in others," he said.

"Gaza, despite relentless killing and widespread destruction, has strengthened the people's will of resistance. This is human nature," he stated.

Pezeshkian also addressed US President Donald Trump's Tuesday address, during which the American leader attacked Iran and the Islamic Republic's regime.

"I had prepared a speech to present to you yesterday, when the US president described us as terrorists. We have been victims of terrorism. I come from an Iran where our supreme leader was assassinated without any legal reasons, where they bombed a school. The children perished under bombs with weapons used by Israel and the US; they had committed no crimes," Pezeshkian said.

"The words of the US president yesterday show that those who are experts in international law, dialogue, diplomacy, and basic human standards know that everything uttered against our country goes against the charter of the UN... Trump must understand that Iran is ready for the way of dialogue and negotiation, without accepting the language of war," he added.

"Those who are terrorists, and train, and protect terrorists, described us as terrorists. We are defending ourselves; we are not terrorists," he claimed.

"We responded, but we didn't target civilians...The day I became president, they assassinated [Hamas leader] Ismail Haniyeh. They target any neighborhood, any province, in any place," he said.

"Are we the sources of instability? We only seek to live independently..."We don't want anything. We have received our response. We need strength, because a people that is not capable of defending itself will be trampled on," he claimed.

"For the past 200 years, Iran has never attacked any territory. We have defended ourselves, but never attacked..."We do not seek power to attack or commit aggression; we seek energy for progress, not to threaten...The people of Iran have been in the last seven months in support of our homeland," Pezeshkian said.

"Iran must be powerful, so to avoid being threatened, to avoid its future being threatened...Our defensive systems are being built so that the bombing of Iranian cities doesn't go unanswered. We do not seek anyone's approval for our defense," he said.

"We don't see our neighbors as security rivals. We want strong neighbors. But we can not let some gain access to our waterways and then use it to attack us," Pezeshkian said in reference to militarization of the Strait of Hormuz, including US Central Command (CENTCOM)'s ongoing blockade.

Israel's Danon denounces Pezeshkian's comments

Israel's Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, denounced Pezeshkian's comments, saying that "This is the same regime that arms Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, Hamas in Gaza and Judea and Samaria, and the militias in Iraq."

"The same regime that murders its citizens when they dare to protest against it. Pezeshkian, your regime spreads terror. You are the last one who can preach to Israel and the US about morality," Danon added.

Syria's Sharaa insists Golan will remain Syrian territory

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa also addressed the UNGA on Wednesday morning.

Sharaa, in his address, stated that the Golan Heights will remain Syrian territory, and attempts to achieve any other outcome "will be thwarted."

He also called on partners to "abide by international law."

"When land is usurped, when sanctity is violated, people suffer, and people pay the price," Sharaa said.

With seven states, we started to destroy chemical weapons and worked with the IAEA to combat chemical and nuclear weapons, the president said.

"Syria went from being a crisis to an opportunity for many countries," he stated.

"We have consolidated our values and the rule of law. Any attempts that violate our sovereignty will be stopped. [The] Golan [Heights] will remain Syrian territory," the president said. "Any other attempts will be thwarted."

Sharaa's family fled the Golan Heights during the 1973 Yom Kippur War. He was born in Riyadh to two Syrian parents and chose the nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Jolani [from the Golan] to highlight his heritage during his time as leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.

"I ask our partners to abide by international law...The world is encouraged by our return, but Israel keeps attacking Syria," he continued.

"We will continue to serve our people; we will continue to serve god. God will always reward you for your actions... There have been 500 airstrikes, more than 1200 incursions, and 300 detentions. This is at odds with the orientation that we are seeing at a global level. It is reminiscent of an era that we thought was long gone. We are committed to the 1974 agreement; we call for the withdrawal of Israeli forces to the line of the 8 of December of 2024," he stated.

Romanian president insists Iran will not possess nuclear weapon, must allow IAEA access, comply with NPT

Meanwhile, Romanian President Nicusor Dan addressed Iran's nuclear weapons program, demanding that the Islamic Republic cease its attempts to produce a bomb.

"Iran must not possess a nuclear weapon. Iran must comply with the NPT, and must restore access to the IAEA," Dan said.

"Romania will continue to provide maritime security and unrestricted navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the Black Sea," Dan added.

Argentina's Milei: We aligned with US, Israel because we share beliefs, profound strategic affinity

Additionally, Argentinian President Javier Milei said that Buenos Aires "aligned with the US and Israel because we share beliefs and a profound strategic affinity."

"That's why we condemned the attacks by the Iranian regime against Israel; we declared the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a foreign terrorist group, and we are still demanding justice for the two terror attacks against Argentine soil in 1992 and 1994," he said.

The UN "voted systematically against Israel, while they kept silent over Islamic extremism and the genocide of Christians in Africa," Milei added.

Tobias Holcman and Idan Kweller contributed to this report.