Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian delivered a forceful address at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, condemning the genocidal crimes of the Israeli regime and urging the international community to take decisive action.

In a speech that spanned regional conflicts, Western hypocrisy, and Iran’s vision for peace, Pezeshkian denounced the ongoing atrocities in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and most recently Qatar, describing them as part of a broader campaign of aggression supported by the United States.

Opening his remarks, Pezeshkian lambasted the silence of world powers in the face of what he termed a “genocide campaign” by Israel in Gaza. He described the destruction of homes, hospitals, schools, and essential infrastructure, coupled with the blockade of food, water, and medicine, as crimes against humanity.

“Would you accept this for yourselves?” the Iranian president asked the assembly. “If we do not stand against these dangerous violations, they will engulf the world.”

He cited reports of more than 35,000 Palestinian civilians killed in Gaza and accused Israel of exporting instability across the region through airstrikes and assassinations, carried out with U.S. support.

Pezeshkian warned other nations in West Asia that they could one day face the same aggression Iran has endured. He pointed to the joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iranian territory during June’s 12-day war, which he called “a major betrayal of diplomacy and a heavy blow to international trust and regional peace.”

“The enemies of Iran inadvertently strengthened the sacred national unity,” he said, praising the Iranian people’s swift support for the armed forces in resisting foreign attacks.

Rejecting Western accusations over Iran’s nuclear program, Pezeshkian stressed that Tehran has never sought nuclear weapons and never will, citing a religious fatwa against weapons of mass destruction. “True security is not achieved through force,” he said, “but through confidence-building, mutual respect, regional convergence, and multilateralism based on international law.”

President Masoud Pezeshkian outlined a vision for a “strong Iran in a strong region,” emphasizing collective security through cooperative defense mechanisms, joint investments in infrastructure and modern knowledge, and the protection of cultural diversity and human dignity. He advocated for the fair exploitation of vital energy resources and regional cooperation free from foreign interference, promoting a framework of mutual respect and stability.

“This is not peace through power, but power through peace,” he emphasized.

The Iranian president denounced Western double standards, criticizing the United States and European countries for sanctioning Iran while shielding Israel from accountability. He described the recent European attempts to reinstate UN sanctions as “illegal, illegitimate, and lacking international support,” accusing them of sabotaging the JCPOA nuclear deal that they once hailed as a diplomatic success.

“Those who possess the largest nuclear arsenals accuse us of violations,” Pezeshkian said. “A blacksmith in Balkh commits a sin, and they hang a coppersmith in Shushtar.”

Pezeshkian extended gratitude to nations that supported Iran during recent hostilities and reaffirmed Tehran’s commitment to regional peace initiatives. He welcomed the Saudi-Pakistani defense pact, expressed hope for peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and called for a fair resolution to the war in Ukraine.

He also condemned Israel’s recent aggression against Qatar, which resulted in the deaths of Palestinian and Qatari civilians, vowing Iran’s solidarity with Doha.

Concluding his address, Pezeshkian invoked Iran’s ancient civilization and cultural legacy, quoting the 13th-century Persian poet Saadi: “Human beings are members of a whole, in creation of one essence and soul.”

He pledged that Iran would remain a steadfast partner to peace-seeking nations, while continuing to resist injustice, double standards, and foreign aggression.

“They must realize,” Pezeshkian declared, “Iran will never surrender in the face of atrocities.” (ILKHA)