Iranian President Condemns U.S. Airstrikes as ‘Grave Betrayal’ During UNGA Speech
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian delivered a scathing condemnation of the United States and Israel during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly, accusing them of committing a ‘grave betrayal of diplomacy’ by conducting airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. The attacks, which occurred in June and involved U.S. B-2 bombers dropping 30,000-pound bombs, were described by the U.S. as a success, with former President Donald Trump claiming the Iranian nuclear program was ‘totally obliterated.’ Pezeshkian, however, maintained that Iran has no intention of developing nuclear weapons and emphasized its commitment to peaceful nuclear energy.
He called the strikes a violation of international law and criticized the U.S. for enabling regional conflicts, including Israel’s actions in Gaza, which he denounced as ‘genocide.’ The president also accused Washington of supporting Israel’s aggression and urged Muslim states to unite in collective defense against Western-backed aggression.
Pezeshkian’s remarks also underscored the depth of Iran’s hostility toward Israel. He declared that those responsible for targeting children in Gaza ‘are not worthy of the name human being’ and said such crimes prove Israel ‘shall never prove to be trustworthy partners.’
The Iranian leader portrayed his country as resilient in the face of pressure, insisting that military and economic coercion has backfired. ‘The patriotic and valiant people of Iran laid bare before the aggressors the fallacy and self-destruction of their arrogant calculations,’ he said. ‘The enemies of Iran unwittingly fortified the sacred national unity. The people of Iran, despite the most severe, protracted and crushing economic sanctions… rise in unison in support of their valiant armed forces.’
Pezeshkian reiterated Iran’s refusal to abandon its nuclear program, asserting that the government’s stance is guided by the Supreme Leader and religious authorities. ‘We do not seek the weapons. This is our belief based on the edict issued by the Supreme Leader and by religious authorities,’ he said. ‘We never sought weapons of mass destruction, nor will we ever seek them.’
He tied the strikes against Iran to what he described as a broader pattern of Western-backed aggression across the Middle East, citing Israel’s offensive in Gaza as ‘genocide’ and denouncing the ‘Greater Israel’ project as a delusional scheme destabilizing the entire region. He accused the U.S. of enabling Israel’s actions in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen and urged Muslim states to unite in collective defense.
‘The world in these two years has witnessed a genocide in Gaza, the destruction of homes in Lebanon, the devastation of Syria’s infrastructure, the assault against the people of Yemen, and the assassination of Iran’s scientists,’ Pezeshkian said. ‘All of this under the full support of the most heavily armed regime on the face of the earth, under the pretext of self-defense. Would you countenance such things for yourselves?’
Despite the tensions, Iran has continued to assert its position on the nuclear program, with Pezeshkian declaring that the country will not back down. The Iranian leader’s speech reflects a deepening international dispute over military actions and regional stability, with the U.S. and Iran at odds over the use of force and diplomatic engagement.