Iran’s President Pezeshkian Condemns US ‘Bullying’ at UN but Signals Conditional Willingness to Negotiate

In a powerful address to the United Nations General Assembly, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused the United States of acting as the region’s true bully and terrorist, while simultaneously asserting Tehran’s enduring commitment to diplomatic engagement.

Delivering his first speech to the UN General Assembly in New York since the outbreak of conflict, Pezeshkian defiantly declared that Iran would never capitulate to American pressure, vowing to stand firm against foreign aggression.

Yet, the Iranian leader balanced his defiant rhetoric with an olive branch, stating, “It must be understood by President Trump and those who seek to bully us that we are ready for dialogue, diplomacy, and negotiations, but without the language of force.”

Earlier on Tuesday, the US President had addressed the assembly, stating he was considering options regarding Iran, but subsequently welcomed the resumption of direct discussions between Tehran and Washington’s negotiating team.

On the sidelines of the assembly, a surprise three-hour meeting took place between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. Deemed constructive by both parties, this was the first high-level encounter since June, though it did not prevent the US delegation from walking out at the beginning of President Pezeshkian’s address.

While President Pezeshkian did not disclose specific details of the bilateral talks, his focus appeared to be on securing the support of Iran’s Arab neighbors for Tehran’s proposed framework for the future of the Strait of Hormuz. This vital waterway has been intermittently blockaded since the conflict began, causing significant spikes in global energy prices.

He emphasized that Iran would not tolerate the strait being used to transport weapons destined for use against its interests, signaling that Tehran will likely demand inspection rights for vessels transiting the waterway in the future. Ultimately, he asserted that Iran’s goal is to live independently and secure its sovereignty.

Pezeshkian accused Washington of “terrorism” over the assassination of Iran’s former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, at the onset of the war. Holding up photographs of the deceased leader and more than 150 schoolchildren killed in the initial days of the conflict, he firmly asserted that Tehran had not initiated the war.

Furthermore, he maintained that Iran retains the right to a peaceful civilian nuclear program, reiterating that the nation does not seek to develop nuclear weapons.

He repeatedly argued that genuine regional security must be established through intra-regional agreements rather than through external powers like the United States. Iran, he noted, views its neighbors not as security rivals, but as essential partners in collective security.

“In today’s world, those who are unable to defend themselves will be trampled upon,” he added solemnly.

Since the onset of the conflict, Iran has repeatedly targeted US allies within the region.

Insisting that Iran is the true victim of terrorism, Pezeshkian questioned the international stance on why Israel is allowed to kill while Iran faces severe sanctions. “They kill, and we are sanctioned,” he declared, asserting that Iran does not seek special treatment but merely demands equal rights under international law.

The Iranian president’s attendance at the UN’s flagship diplomatic event in Manhattan had been highly uncertain, as it remained unclear whether Washington would grant the necessary visa.

Ultimately, Washington granted the permit for Pezeshkian’s attendance, though it denied visas to several members of his official entourage.

In Tehran, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei confirmed that discussions had indeed occurred between the two sides, though he stopped short of confirming any shift in Iran’s official negotiating stance.

He stated, “The interaction with the American side, facilitated through Qatari mediation, was aimed at conveying Iran’s conditions. These include the complete end of the war in all its dimensions, the cessation of American aggressive actions, the lifting of the naval siege and economic warfare, and the release of frozen Iranian assets, among other demands.”

Acknowledging the potential for domestic political backlash, he reiterated that Iran’s core conditions had been formally conveyed to the American side.

Tehran had established seven preconditions for returning to negotiations. In a significant development over the past 48 hours, Iranian officials stated that the crucial Strait of Hormuz could be reopened within seven days if these conditions were met.

It is highly likely that Washington and the Gulf states would need to accept a proposed navigational route for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which would require vessels to transit primarily through Iranian waters under Iranian, rather than Omani, control.

The three-hour duration of the talks suggests that some progress was made. The US administration is under significant pressure to lower oil prices and increase the availability of refined petroleum ahead of the November midterm elections. Recent data indicates that fewer than five identifiable tankers per day are currently successfully transiting the strait.

The blockage of the strait is further exacerbated by uncertainty surrounding control of a second critical energy chokepoint: the Bab al-Mandab strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean. This vital passage is currently subject to the influence of the Houthis, Iranian-backed Yemeni paramilitaries.

There are few indications that the Trump administration seeks to initiate a full-scale military conflict with Iran or the Houthis. Republicans are actively working to shift the domestic political agenda away from a highly unpopular conflict that many Americans believe the US is losing.

Iran is facing intensifying pressure from sanctions, with a US naval blockade severely hindering its ability to export oil and depriving the nation of vital foreign currency. Additionally, as of Wednesday, Iran’s civilian aircraft faced the threat of a global grounding due to the looming threat of US secondary sanctions targeting any entity engaging with Iran’s civilian aviation fleet.

Iranian officials engaged in frantic negotiations with neighboring nations to preserve an air bridge, but it appears that both Oman and Iraq have been compelled to close their airspace to Iranian civilian flights.

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