Iranian President Pezeshkian Takes UN Stage Amid Trump’s Threats of Annihilation
Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in New York to address the UN General Assembly, hours after Donald Trump warned of “annihilation” of the Iranian regime.
Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran’s 71-year-old president and ex-heart surgeon, reached New York to speak at the UN General Assembly as the war in the Middle East drags on. His remarks are expected to blame the United States and Israel for initiating the conflict and for alleged strikes that killed over 121 children in Minab. The speech comes after Donald Trump, addressing the same assembly, warned the US has two options toward Iran, one being “annihilation,” prompting the Iranian delegation to leave the session.
The United States also refused visas to Pezeshkian’s media entourage, a decision Tehran denounced as an attempt to suppress its narrative. Within Iran, hard-liners demand a forceful tone, while some officials suggest the UN platform could open a diplomatic path, including reopening the Strait of Hormuz if the US eases pressure. Energy markets remain volatile, with Brent crude hovering near $100 a barrel, underscoring the broader economic stakes.
Why it matters
The speech could shape Iran-US relations and influence diplomatic efforts to end the regional conflict.
How this story developed
- Aug 28 Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey launch Mecca Defence Alliance, secretariat set in Riyadh
- Sep 3 Greece delivered a diplomatic note to Turkey’s Foreign Ministry, instructed by Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis, contesting Turkish objections to Greek spatial planning frameworks and the creation of two national maritime parks. Athens maintains that international treaties define Aegean sovereignty and that Turkey’s own maritime park declarations overstep its jurisdiction. Both sides exchanged notes reiterating their positions, while Greece pledged to raise any unilateral Turkish actions with European partners. Despite tensions, intelligence chiefs met to keep security cooperation alive, and leaders plan to attend the UN General Assembly.
- Sep 6 Turkey reiterated its long‑standing claims over continental shelves.
- Sep 11 South Korea’s foreign minister and his Iranian counterpart held a telephone conversation to address tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.
- Sep 12 Chinese President Xi Jinping called on BRICS nations at the New Delhi summit to support peace initiatives in the Middle East, saying the war harms the international community.
- Sep 13 Pakistan reiterated that no immediate military response under the Makkah pact is being discussed.
- Sep 13 Leaders adopted a 140‑point New Delhi Declaration covering security, trade, climate and technology issues.
- Sep 13 The Greek prime minister publicly called for dialogue with Turkey while maintaining a formal protest over Turkey’s maritime park claims.
- Sep 13 Day 2 of the summit focused on PM Modi’s four‑pillar BRICS agenda, early‑warning and disaster systems, AI, digital agriculture, supply chains and startups.
- Sep 13 President Xi outlined proposals for a BRICS AI Open Source Zone and a China‑hosted service‑trade forum.
- Sep 17 Cho Hyun departed Seoul for Washington, moving the dialogue from phone calls to an in‑person meeting.
- Sep 19 India unveiled a BRICS Logistics Supply Chain Cooperation Framework during the summit.
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