Tehran - BORNA - Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian denounced the recent airstrikes by Israel and the United States on Iranian cities as “a great betrayal of diplomacy and efforts to establish peace,” stressing that the Islamic Republic has never pursued nuclear weapons and never will.
Addressing the 80th annual session of the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, Pezeshkian referred to the gathering’s theme and noted: “What makes humanity more virtuous is piety. The foundation of all divine religions is the golden rule: do not do unto others what you do not wish for yourself.” He then posed a pointed question: “Is this the reality of our world today? Look at the past two years: genocide in Gaza, repeated violations of sovereignty in Lebanon, the destruction of Syria’s infrastructure, and starving children in their mothers’ arms. We witnessed assaults on state sovereignty and targeted killings of leaders. Do you accept such a world?”
Pezeshkian emphasized that Israeli and American strikes on Iranian cities during ongoing negotiations represented a fundamental breach of international law. “These attacks martyred commanders, scientists, women, and children. They were a grave blow to international law,” he said.
Holding up a record of Israel’s massacres, Pezeshkian added: “Under the name of peace, these crimes have been committed. Thirty-five thousand innocent lives in Gaza have been taken. Israel has blocked water and justice from reaching the people. If such violations are tolerated, these precedents will consume the world.”
The president reaffirmed Iran’s resilience in the face of foreign aggression: “Those who commit these crimes must know that Iran has always stood firm against the storms of history. The Iranian nation has repeatedly shown it will never bow to aggressors. In the 12-day defense, our people shattered the arrogant illusions of the invaders. Despite the harshest sanctions and repeated attempts to divide us, with the firing of the first bullet, the people stood as supporters of their armed forces.”
Pezeshkian condemned Israel’s expansionist plans: “Nearly two years into genocide and mass starvation in the occupied territories, Israel shamelessly speaks of a ‘Greater Israel’ plan that encompasses large swaths of the region. No one in the world is safe from this regime’s aggressive ambitions.”
He reiterated Iran’s longstanding call for a nuclear-free Middle East: “In a strong region, there is no place for bloodshed. That is why my country has for years pursued a nuclear-weapon-free zone. Yet those with the largest nuclear arsenals point fingers at us.”
Turning to Europe’s recent actions, Pezeshkian criticized the E3 for attempting to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran under U.S. pressure. “Last week, after ten years of broken promises and acts of aggression, the three European countries, at Washington’s behest, tried to bring back annulled Security Council resolutions through pressure and coercion. They bypassed legal obligations and falsely painted themselves as trustworthy parties, all while disregarding Iran’s sincere efforts. Their objective was to destroy the JCPOA, which they once called their greatest diplomatic achievement,” he said.
Pezeshkian insisted that such actions were illegitimate and lacked international credibility: “This illegal move faced opposition from some Security Council members and will not be recognized by the international community. Once again, I declare here that Iran has never sought nuclear weapons. This is a matter of belief and rooted in the Supreme Leader’s fatwa.”
He continued: “Iran does not and will not seek weapons of mass destruction. While Israel destabilizes the region, Iran is sanctioned. The Islamic Republic welcomes peace and stability, and we believe the future of our region must be built on that foundation.”
Condemning Israel’s recent attack on Qatar, Pezeshkian said: “Real security comes not from force, but from building trust and mutual respect. I call on everyone to listen to each other rather than raise their voices. Iran’s strength has never been built on nuclear weapons, but on a culture of compassion and the message of empathy carried by Rumi and Hafez. Those who kill children and call it power are unworthy of the name human. Iran is a reliable partner for all peace-seeking nations.”
He concluded by reaffirming Iran’s resilience: “The upright people of Iran have endured crises by standing firm against outlaws. Let us turn threats into opportunities—together.”
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