By SCM International Desk I Thursday, Sept 24, 2026
UNITED NATIONS — In a dramatic confrontation at the United Nations General Assembly, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian delivered a fiery, wartime address, revealing he abandoned his prepared text after hearing U.S. President Donald Trump threaten to “annihilate” the Islamic Republic.
Speaking to a tense Assembly hall as the U.S. delegation walked out, Pezeshkian directly challenged Washington and Israel over the ongoing military conflict, Western sanctions, and human rights accusations, while emphasizing that Tehran would not yield to military pressure.
”It must be understood by Mr. Trump and those who seek to bully us that we are ready for dialogue and diplomacy and negotiations without accepting the language of force,” Pezeshkian said, calling out the American president by name. Referring to months of joint U.S.-Israeli strikes, he added: “Yes, they did hit us, but we did not bend the knee.”
A Sudden Reversal Under Threat of ‘Annihilation’
Pezeshkian’s address came less than 24 hours after President Trump used the same stage to warn that he faced a choice between negotiating a peace deal or executing a campaign to “annihilate” Iran. Trump had questioned whether to “drive them into hell with no chance of survival.”
According to Iranian officials, Pezeshkian had arrived in New York intending to deliver a moderate draft focusing on economic reform and regional integration. However, Trump’s remarks forced a complete rewrite of his address.
To visually reinforce his country’s suffering, Pezeshkian held up large photographs at the podium depicting the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei alongside victims of military strikes, including schoolchildren killed in Minab.
”We have only defended ourselves. We are not terrorists. Our innocent people have been the targets of cowardly attacks and aggressions imposed upon our country.”
— Masoud Pezeshkian, President of Iran
Rebukes Over Gaza, Sanctions, and Strategic Waterways
Throughout his speech, Pezeshkian systematically targeted key elements of Western policy in the Middle East:
Minab & Civilian Casualties: Holding photos of young victims, he accused the U.S. and Israel of committing war crimes and hypocrisy on human rights, contrasting Western concern for international law with civilian deaths in Minab and Gaza.
Economic Sanctions: He condemned Western economic blockades as “economic terrorism” designed to inflict collective punishment on civilians rather than deter military ambition.
Strait of Hormuz Access: Pezeshkian warned against the permanent deployment of hostile fleets in the Persian Gulf. He noted the injustice of Western powers demanding free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz while denying Iran access to international shipping routes via sanctions.
Nuclear Rights: Addressing nuclear fears, he reaffirmed Tehran’s stance: “Neither nuclear weapons nor deprivation of nuclear knowledge,” insisting Iran would not abandon peaceful nuclear energy under threat.
Backdoor Diplomacy Amid Escalating Rhetoric
Despite the belligerent exchanges on the Assembly floor, diplomatically subtle channels appear to remain active behind the scenes.
Hours after his initial address, Trump told reporters that U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner had conducted a three-hour meeting with Iranian diplomats on the sidelines of the UN gathering, characterising the session as “a very good meeting.”
Iranian officials confirmed that discussions mediated by Qatari representatives took place, though they maintained that Iran’s baseline conditions for a cease-fire remain unchanged.