Iran's Pezeshkian: ‘We will never bend the knee’

• Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused the US of targeting Iranian schools, universities and healthcare facilities, while defending Tehran’s right to peaceful nuclear technology.
• He described Gaza as “a symbol of the failure of international mechanisms” to prevent civilian suffering and ended his speech with a message to US President Donald Trump.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed the 81st UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, condemning US actions against Iran, defending Tehran’s nuclear program and criticizing the international response to Gaza.

Pezeshkian said Iranians “have been the victims of terrorism,” citing the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader and the US attack on a primary school in Minab. He held up photographs of victims during his speech.

He also accused the US of targeting “our universities, our healthcare centres, our schools.”

A member of the US delegation walked out of the chamber as Pezeshkian began his address.

Pezeshkian said Iran “did not hit civilian populations” while responding to US attacks.

The Iranian president denied that Tehran is seeking nuclear weapons but said Iran would not surrender what he called its “inherent” right to peaceful nuclear technology.

He also criticized US sanctions, saying they disproportionately affect “the poor, the least privileged in our society.”

Pezeshkian contrasted Iran’s nuclear facilities and international inspections with what he described as ‘Israel’s’ uninspected nuclear arsenal.

“While they [Israelis] kill, we are sanctioned, we are punished,” he said.

Turning to Palestine, Pezeshkian described Gaza as “a symbol of the failure of international mechanisms to prevent civilian suffering.”

He criticized the international community’s response to the ongoing violence and called for greater action to protect civilians.

At the end of his speech, Pezeshkian addressed Trump directly, declaring: “We will never bow our head, or bend the knee.”