Pezeshkian Tells Trump Iran Will Never “Bend at the Knee” as War Escalates
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has delivered a defiant address at the United Nations, saying Iran will not surrender in the face of pressure from the United States and Israel.
Pezeshkian’s appearance on Wednesday marked his first UN address since Washington and Israel launched what the report described as an all-out war against Iran.
The Iranian president accused the United States of “terrorism” over the killing of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at the beginning of the conflict. During his speech, Pezeshkian held up a photograph of the late leader and maintained that Iran had never started a war.
Pezeshkian also responded to President Donald Trump’s warnings over the conflict. Trump had told the UN on Tuesday that he was considering whether to “annihilate” Iran, while also welcoming renewed talks between Iranian and US negotiators.
The Iranian president did not address those reported negotiations in his speech. Instead, he said continued sanctions, pressure and what he described as bullying would strengthen resistance among Iranians.
“(Trump) must know that the resistance of the Iranian people will only increase in the face of sanctions, increased pressure, increased bullying. We will never bow our head or bend at the knee,” Pezeshkian said.
He also addressed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy route that Iran has intermittently blockaded since the beginning of the war. Pezeshkian said Tehran would not allow the waterway to be used for actions against Iran while other countries continued to pursue their interests through it.
“We cannot let some have free access and bolster their interests from the waterway, while at the same time using that waterway to impose their aggression upon us,” he said.
Pezeshkian’s attendance at the UN General Assembly had been uncertain because of questions over whether Washington would grant him a visa. The United States eventually issued the permit but denied visas to several members of his delegation.