Short Speech by Pezeshkian at the United Nations; He Threatened Israel with Consequences for Its Attacks on Lebanon

Masoud Pezeshkian, the President of the Fourteenth Government of the Islamic Republic, in his first speech at the United Nations General Assembly, threatened Israel with receiving a response for its attacks on Lebanon while stating, 'We are not seeking a wider war in the region.' Pezeshkian, in his brief speech lasting less than 15 minutes and quickly read from a pre-written text, claimed that Israel has failed in Gaza and cannot rebuild its myth of invincibility by attempting to expand the war. He also accused Israel of 'assassinating' scientists and 'guests of the Islamic Republic' and supporting ISIS and terrorists, while Iranian officials have repeatedly admitted to supporting armed Islamist groups in the region, including Hamas, the Houthis, and Hezbollah, stating, 'We in the Islamic Republic support freedom-seeking movements.' In another part of his speech at the UN General Assembly, avoiding direct reference to US officials and the government, he addressed the American people, saying, 'It is not Iran that has built bases next to your borders and sanctioned you. It is not Iran that prevents you from accessing medicine and the global banking and monetary system. It is not us who assassinated our military leaders; it is America that assassinated our commander in Baghdad.' Pezeshkian's claim about US sanctions on Iranian medicine, which has been repeatedly raised by other Iranian officials, has been denied by various US officials, emphasizing that medicine and humanitarian aid to the people of Iran have never been on the US sanctions list. Pezeshkian also claimed, 'We seek lasting peace and security for the people of Ukraine and Russia,' adding, 'The Islamic Republic opposes war and emphasizes the need for a swift cessation of military conflicts in Ukraine, supporting any peaceful solution and believing that this crisis can only end through dialogue.' This claim comes while there is undeniable evidence of extensive military cooperation between the Islamic Republic and Russia, equipping Moscow with Iranian-made drones and missiles for attacks on Ukraine. Pezeshkian, who has recently called for a return to the JCPOA negotiations, also stated during his speech at the UN General Assembly, 'We are ready to engage with the JCPOA members. If the JCPOA commitments are fully and in good faith implemented, discussions on other issues can also take place.' He noted that 'Iran is ready to have effective interactions with global powers on an equal footing,' emphasizing that 'the appropriate response to such a message coming from Tehran is not more sanctions but the implementation of previous commitments in lifting sanctions and paving the way for further agreements, and I hope this voice from Iran is well heard today.'