Arabic version: الرئيس الإيراني يقول إن طهران لن «تركع»

According to BBC News, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told the UN General Assembly that Iran would never “bend the knee” after almost seven months of war with the US and Israel, while saying Tehran was ready for a diplomatic solution.

His comments followed US President Donald Trump’s threat to “annihilate” the Islamic Republic if a deal was not reached soon. Pezeshkian said the threat showed “a bullying mentality” and declared that Iranian resistance would increase under sanctions, pressure and bullying.

Pezeshkian said any agreement would need to end the US blockade preventing Iranian ships from using the Strait of Hormuz. “It cannot be the case that everyone benefits from the Strait of Hormuz while we are denied access,” he said. The US delegation walked out at the start of his address, and there was no immediate US comment.

He also said Iran would not abandon its civilian nuclear programme and would not seek nuclear weapons, stating: “no nuclear weapons and no limitations on peaceful nuclear technology.” Trump had said the war prevented Iran from obtaining a nuclear bomb and called on its leaders to relinquish their nuclear ambitions.

On Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US envoy Steve Witkoff held indirect talks, brokered by Qatari mediators, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Iran said its conditions included ending the blockade and releasing frozen Iranian assets.