Pezeshkian gives Swiss leader ironic book named “American Aid to Iranian People”
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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian presented Swiss President Guy Parmelin with a booklet titled “American Aid to the Iranian People” during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
The symbolic gift, handed over after Pezeshkian’s address to the assembly, contains photographs and documentation that Iranian officials say depict US attacks on civilian targets, casualties, sanctions impacts, military strikes, and the killings of Iranian scientists and commanders.
Iranian state media described the booklet as intended to highlight what Tehran calls false claims of assistance by the United States and its allies, framing the title ironically against the backdrop of recent hostilities.
Videos circulated by Iranian agencies showed Pezeshkian handing the volume to Parmelin during their talks in New York.
The meeting was Pezeshkian’s first bilateral engagement following his UN speech, in which he accused the United States and ‘Israel’ of aggression, including attacks on infrastructure and civilian sites, and asserted that Iran had acted in self-defense.
The two leaders discussed regional and international developments, the need to strengthen diplomatic mechanisms to reduce tensions, and ways Switzerland might contribute to dialogue and restoring trust between Iran and the United States.
Pezeshkian outlined Tehran’s position that recent military actions violated international law and humanitarian standards, while expressing Iran’s readiness to expand relations based on mutual respect and resolve disputes through diplomacy rather than force.
Parmelin, for his part, highlighted the longstanding and good relations between Switzerland and Iran.
He recalled Switzerland’s historical role in representing US interests in Iran and its involvement in past diplomatic initiatives.
The Swiss president stressed the importance of maintaining dialogue and using diplomatic channels to manage regional crises, expressing concern over the current situation and Switzerland’s willingness to help reduce tensions and facilitate talks.
In a social media post, Parmelin wrote that during the conversation with the Iranian president, “I reaffirmed our commitment to dialogue and the restoration of trust.”
A Swiss government spokesperson later confirmed that Parmelin received the book but took no position on it at the time, treating it as a standard official gift and taking it back to Bern.
