Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday (September 23), that Tehran would never surrender to the US but still believed in diplomacy.

His comments came a day after US President Donald Trump used the same forum to threaten to "annihilate" Iran.

The duelling speeches at the ‌annual UN General Assembly in New York bookended the first shuttle talks between the United States and Iran for months, which appeared to have yielded no concessions in the public stance of either side towards ending the Middle East war.

The annual UN gathering in New York provided the occasion on Tuesday (September 22) ⁠for Iranian and U.S. officials to hold their first known indirect talks since a ceasefire collapsed in July, with Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner communicating through mediators on the sidelines.

The war, launched by Trump in February alongside Israel as "Operation Epic Fury", has lasted nearly seven months, killing thousands of people, disrupting global energy supplies and spreading to other countries in the region — ⁠particularly to Lebanon and more recently to Yemen.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

UNITED NATIONS (SEPTEMBER 23, 2026) (UNTV - Access All)

1. IRANIAN PRESIDENT, MASOUD PEZESHKIAN, WALKING TOWARDS LECTERN

2. PEZESHKIAN SPEAKING, HOLDING PICTURE OF LATE IRANIAN SUPREME LEADER, ALI KHAMENEI

3. UNITED STATES DELEGATE WALKING OUT

4. PEZESHKIAN SPEAKING, SHOWING PICTURES OF CHILDREN KILLED DURING US ATTACK ON MINAB SCHOOL

5. IRANIAN DELEGATION SEATED

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRANIAN PRESIDENT, MASOUD PEZESHKIAN, SAYING:

"They attacked our school, our hospital, our university, our bridges and our infrastructure. All of these attacks are in violation of international law."

7. DELEGATIONS SEATED

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRANIAN PRESIDENT, MASOUD PEZESHKIAN, SAYING:

"We want power to defend ourselves; we do not want power to commit aggression. We want energy for development; we do not want it to build bombs, cause destruction or threaten others."

9. PEZESHKIAN SPEAKING AT LECTERN, DELEGATIONS SEATED

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRANIAN PRESIDENT, MASOUD PEZESHKIAN, SAYING:

“Iran must be powerful enough that no one can threaten its survival and progress.”

11. IRANIAN DELEGATION SEATED

12. (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRANIAN PRESIDENT, MASOUD PEZESHKIAN, SAYING:

"They block our access routes, while transporting weapons, explosives and energy through those same waterways to destroy countries. This is not acceptable, and we will not allow such a thing to happen in our country."

13. PEZESHKIAN SPEAKING AT LECTERN, DELEGATIONS SEATED

14. (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRANIAN PRESIDENT, MASOUD PEZESHKIAN, SAYING:

"Our people experienced first-hand the military power and devastating consequences of their decisions, and they have tested Iran’s resolve and now know well that Iran cannot be forced into submission through war. Iran has never been the initiator of any war and has always demonstrated its commitment to the negotiating table."

15. PEZESHKIAN SPEAKING AT LECTERN, DELEGATIONS SEATED

16.(SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRANIAN PRESIDENT, MASOUD PEZESHKIAN, SAYING:

“He (US President Donald Trump) should know that threatening our people will make them more united and stronger, and will strengthen the resistance of Iranians. The Iranian people will not bow to force.”

17. IRANIAN DELEGATION APPLAUDING

18. PEZESHKIAN LEAVING LECTERN