Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s harsh criticism of Washington at the United Nations likely elicited little more than a “smirk” from President Donald Trump, who understands he “holds the cards,” according to a foreign policy expert speaking to Fox News Digital on Wednesday.
This assessment followed Pezeshkian and Trump addressing the U.N. General Assembly in New York from the same podium within a 24-hour span, exchanging sharp rhetoric as tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to rise.
“Trump understands he holds the cards, and he may not have even paid much attention to what the Iranian president was saying,” said Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD).
Pezeshkian accused the United States and Israel of attacking Iran while casting his nation as the victim of aggression.
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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian holds a picture, which he says is from the Minab school struck by an airstrike, as he addresses the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters Sept. 23, 2026, in New York City. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Pezeshkian asserted, “We have only defended ourselves. We are not terrorists.”
“Our innocent people have been targeted by cowardly attacks and aggressions imposed upon our country. America and Israel attacked us,” he stated.
“I am certain that would have drawn a smirk, a smile, or a chuckle from the president’s face, given that crassness,” Taleblu remarked, highlighting the stark contrast between Pezeshkian’s rhetoric and the Iranian government’s historical record.
Pezeshkian’s address followed Trump’s use of the same U.N. stage to defend the U.S. conflict with Iran and warn Tehran of a stark choice between reaching a diplomatic agreement and facing further destruction.
“Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic, and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again?” Trump declared on Tuesday.
Although rhetoric from both leaders was pointed, Taleblu noted that their broader diplomatic positions remain largely predictable.
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President Donald Trump addresses the U.N. General Assembly in New York City. (Michael Santiago/Getty Images)
“To a certain degree, both President Trump and President Pezeshkian’s speeches before the U.N. General Assembly’s 81st session were predictable,” Taleblu observed.
“Predictable because the current status of both nations and their foreign policy trajectories toward one another follow a fairly predictable pattern.”
Despite the threats and recriminations, the two adversaries also appear to be testing a diplomatic path behind the scenes.
Trump stated on Tuesday that U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner spoke with Iranian officials for roughly three hours on the sidelines of the General Assembly, characterizing the discussions as productive.
Witkoff later indicated that the talks were conducted through mediators who shuttled between the U.S. and Iranian delegations.
According to reports, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also represented Tehran in the discussions.
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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and President Donald Trump. (Majid Saeedi/Getty Images; Jose Luis Magana/AP)
Taleblu noted that both sides are attempting “to make time a weapon on their side” and “to place the burden of choosing between escalation and engagement on the other.”
However, Taleblu characterized Pezeshkian’s broader message as an effort to cast Iran as a victim through an anti-American, anti-Israel, and anti-imperialist framework.
“It appeared to be more of a global South, anti-American, anti-Israeli, anti-colonial, and anti-imperialist message designed to paint the Islamic Republic as the victim,” Taleblu stated.
“In reality, the long-standing victim of this entire crisis is the Iranian people due to the policies of the Islamic Republic.”
The competing messages—confrontation from the U.N. podium and diplomacy behind the scenes—highlighted the unresolved tensions between Washington and Tehran as officials explore whether negotiations can produce a resolution to the conflict.
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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian addresses the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. Headquarters Sept. 23, 2026, in New York City. (Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images)
“Despite the tough talk at the podium, both sides still feel compelled to signal an interest in talks, even though they are both trying to use negotiations to shape an outcome more conducive to their interests,” Taleblu said.
Pezeshkian also informed the General Assembly that Tehran would not surrender to military pressure while signaling that Iran remained open to diplomacy.
“I believe the Iranians are attempting to signal an interest in talks, but they may soon hit a brick wall if they foot-drag, delay, or fail to meaningfully provide any substantive change in their policy,” Taleblu stated, citing Iran’s positions on the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and its nuclear program.
“Ultimately, if the positions remain unchanged, the fact that they are oscillating between shooting and talking does not mean much because the red lines have not actually moved.”
“Of course, the Trump administration is looking for a political win here.”
