Pezeshkian at the UN: Khamenei's assassination lacked a legal framework and Iran is defending itself
Pezeshkian at the UN: Khamenei's assassination lacked a legal framework and Iran is defending itself
Iraqi Al-Wasat newspaper – reports
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian set out his country's position on the confrontation with the United States and Israel during his speech to the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, 23 September 2026, asserting Tehran's commitment to diplomacy and its right to defend itself.
According to Euronews' coverage of the speech, Pezeshkian described the assassination of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei as having been carried out "without a legal framework," and said his country had been subjected to attacks and that its actions come in defense of its people. He rejected US President Donald Trump's accusations that Iran is a sponsor of terrorism, saying Iran had been a victim of it.
The nuclear program and regional relations
Speaking about the nuclear file, Pezeshkian said his country needs nuclear energy for development purposes and denied that its goal is to acquire a nuclear bomb. He also stressed that Iran's security should not be achieved at the expense of the security of other countries.
He called for cooperation among regional states to address their disputes, expressed Tehran's desire to establish relations with strong neighbors, and rejected subjecting his country to military pressure.
Stance on navigation in the Strait of Hormuz
The Iranian president addressed the Strait of Hormuz, declaring his refusal to allow it to be used to transport weapons directed against his country or to carry out operations targeting it, and warning of a widening war.
The speech combined a defense of Iranian policies with an emphasis on negotiation, while levelling criticisms at Washington and Israel. The legal and political characterizations in the statements are attributed to Pezeshkian and do not constitute a judicial ruling or a position issued by the United Nations.
Source: Euronews coverage of the Iranian president's speech to the UN General Assembly, 23 September 2026.
