Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian used his address to the United Nations General Assembly to send a message to Iran’s Gulf neighbours, saying Tehran’s security must be guaranteed if the wider region is to avoid being drawn into continuing instability.
“Either our security is guaranteed, or we will all have to live under insecurity together,” Pezeshkian said, outlining what he presented as Iran’s approach to the region following seven months of war with the United States and Israel.
Speaking in New York as the conflict puts further pressure on Iran’s economy and regional security, Pezeshkian said Iran would not surrender to US pressure or abandon what Tehran considers core security interests, including its nuclear programme, missile capabilities and control over the Strait of Hormuz.
He also rejected US President Donald Trump’s threats against the Islamic Republic, describing his remarks as reflecting a “bullying mentality” and saying threats would only strengthen Iran’s resolve.
“The Iranian people will not bow to pressure,” Pezeshkian said, while reiterating that Tehran remained open to negotiations to resolve its differences with Washington.
His comments came a day after Trump warned that he was considering whether to “annihilate the Islamic Republic” and said Iran could be driven “into hell” if an agreement was not reached.
Pezeshkian also defended Iran’s position on the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant share of global oil and gas shipments normally passes. He argued that Iran could not accept a situation in which other countries freely used the waterway while Tehran was denied access or faced military pressure through it.
“We cannot let some have free access and gain their interest from a waterway while at the same time using that waterway to impose their aggressions upon us,” he said.
At the same time, the Iranian president repeatedly said Tehran was prepared to pursue diplomacy with Washington, but insisted that negotiations could not take place under threats or coercion.
The speech came amid continued efforts to find a diplomatic route out of the conflict. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said subsequent discussions had failed to produce a major breakthrough, suggesting that an earlier memorandum of understanding was no longer on the table.
