Iranians Launch Online Campaign Against Pezeshkian's Trip to the UN: Don't Negotiate with the Killers of the Iranian People

As Masoud Pezeshkian and his accompanying delegation travel to the UN headquarters in New York, a group of Iranians has participated in an online campaign, releasing video messages with a similar theme, stating that the President of the fourteenth government of the Islamic Republic does not represent them and urging international officials not to negotiate with 'the killers of the Iranian people.' Messages from several citizens residing in Iran have been reflected on the accounts of some figures, including Ali Karimi, a popular Iranian footballer and opponent of the Islamic Republic, with their faces blurred for security and to prevent identification. This group of Iranians, both inside and outside the country, is sharing their video messages using the English hashtag '#BoycottPezeshkianUN.' In these messages, it is emphasized: 'As an Iranian, I declare that Masoud Pezeshkian and the Islamic Republic are not my representatives at the UN! Do not negotiate with the killers of the Iranian people!' Some users also referenced Pezeshkian's background and human rights violations by Islamic Republic officials in a video, stressing that Pezeshkian is 'not a reformist, but a puppet of Ali Khamenei' and called for the United Nations to sanction him. Mohammad Sadeghi, an actor who was violently arrested by Islamic Republic officials after supporting women's rights and protesting mandatory hijab, currently residing outside Iran, joined this online campaign, posting a video on Instagram and using the hashtag '#BoycottPezeshkianUN,' stating: 'As an Iranian, Masoud Pezeshkian is not my representative at the UN or any other international organization. Stop negotiating with the Islamic Republic of Iran.' Some of the published messages emphasize that 'the world must stop negotiating with a regime that thrives on terror and oppression,' urging Iranian citizens to 'raise their voices for freedom and justice in Iran!' Masoud Pezeshkian, the head of the fourteenth government of the Islamic Republic, is accompanied by a delegation of government officials, including his strategic deputy Javad Zarif and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, to attend the UN General Assembly in New York. An Israeli account in Persian on the social media platform X also published a cartoon of Masoud Pezeshkian, labeling him 'a puppet of Khamenei and part of the criminal regime of the Islamic Republic,' emphasizing that 'the world should not believe the lies of this regime. Before it is too late, action must be taken against the [Islamic Republic] of Iran.' During this trip, some political figures, including Trita Parsi, have been seen at the hotel where Pezeshkian and his companions are staying. Some observers have raised questions about the issuance of visas for him and some of the political figures accompanying him, calling for their visas to be denied. For instance, Jason Brodsky, policy director at the 'United Against a Nuclear Iran' organization, stated that 'Javad Zarif is not present at any of Pezeshkian's [official] meetings, but was there to meet with reporters,' adding that 'this is especially important considering the [Islamic Republic's] infiltration operations happening this week in New York.' Elizabeth Stitkin, a Persian-speaking spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, also responded to Pezeshkian's claims at the UN, stating: 'We believe Pezeshkian when he says the Islamic Republic does not repress the Iranian people and is not a supporter of terrorism.' Shahram Khalidi, a university professor in international relations and Middle Eastern history, commented on Pezeshkian's trip to the UN and his statements about Israel, stating that he is 'a mouthpiece for Khamenei' and deemed Israel's calculations regarding the Islamic Republic's arms in the region as 'accurate.' Kamyia Entekhabifard, a journalist, also noted that Khamenei's choice of Pezeshkian aims to 'present a different face to the West.' Kaveh Madani discussed the importance and reasoning behind the adoption of the UN 'Future Pact.'