Speaking before the annual gathering of world leaders at the UN in New York, President Pezeshkian said Iran remains committed to defending itself and pursuing diplomacy to end the war, rejecting any notion of capitulation.
He accused America and Israel of launching "cowardly attacks and aggressions" against Iran, asserting that the country’s “innocent people” have been the primary targets and that Iran’s response has been one of “utmost strength.”
During the address, Pezeshkian held up photographs of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei alongside images of more than 150 schoolchildren killed in the opening days of the conflict, underscoring the human toll of the war.
The speech came a day after U.S. President Donald Trump publicly declared he could “annihilate” the Islamic Republic, a statement that has heightened tensions and drawn international scrutiny.
Pezeshkian also warned that the strategic Strait of Hormuz, which carries roughly one‑fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, has become a flashpoint, noting that Iran is being denied access while other nations continue to benefit from the waterway.
The U.S. mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the walkout or the president’s remarks.