Victims Of Terrorism, Not Terrorists: Iran Prez Hits Back At Trump From US Soil At UNGA

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian hit back at US President Donald Trump at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Wednesday, rejecting Washington’s description of Iran as a sponsor of terrorism and declaring that Iranians were “victims of terrorism, not terrorists.” His address came a day after Trump threatened to “annihilate” Iran if Tehran did not agree to a deal, while also leaving the door open to diplomacy.

Pezeshkian began his address by displaying photographs of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and children killed in the Minab school attack, using the images to present Iran’s account of the conflict. Iranian officials have blamed the United States and Israel for attacks that killed civilians, including children. Pezeshkian said the US president had called Iran terrorists, but insisted: “We have been the victims of terrorism.” The US delegation walked out during his address.

Pezeshkian also accused the United States and Israel of attacking Iran while Tehran was engaged in negotiations. He said Iran had defended itself against what it described as aggression and rejected the idea that military pressure would force Tehran to surrender.

On the nuclear issue, Pezeshkian said Iran does not seek a nuclear weapon and wants nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Tehran has maintained that it has a right to civilian nuclear technology, while Washington continues to demand guarantees that Iran will never acquire a nuclear weapon. Pezeshkian said Iran was ready for talks but would not accept negotiations conducted through threats or force.

His message was particularly pointed because the UNGA speech came as Washington and Tehran were quietly reopening a diplomatic channel. US special envoy Steve Witkoff said mediators had shuttled between the two delegations during lengthy discussions in New York. Trump described the talks as productive and said there was “a lot of momentum” towards a deal. The White House later clarified that Trump himself had not participated in the meeting.

Iran, meanwhile, has put forward three central conditions for further progress: lifting the US naval blockade, unfreezing Iranian assets held abroad and ending the fighting across what Tehran calls the resistance fronts, including Lebanon, Gaza and Yemen. Tehran has also tied the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to the easing of US military pressure, with an Iranian official saying the waterway could be reopened within seven days if Washington lifts its blockade of Iranian ports.

Washington is seeking major concessions in return. The talks have focused on Iran’s nuclear programme, uranium enrichment, its enriched uranium stockpile, sanctions and the wider regional conflict. Trump has framed the choice in stark terms, saying Iran faces either a negotiated path towards economic recovery or devastating military consequences.

The contrasting rhetoric continued even as Trump sought regional support for diplomacy. He met Arab and Muslim leaders and senior officials in New York, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and representatives from other Gulf and Middle Eastern states. The meeting focused on Iran, regional security and the consequences of the conflict. Qatar has separately been working with Pakistan on de-escalation and freedom of navigation through Hormuz.

Trump has also linked the timing of diplomacy to US politics, saying he expects a deal with Iran after the midterm elections while insisting he is not personally running in those elections. He has separately told voters to “pretend” he is on the ballot.