Iran President Pezeshkian rejects war during UN visit

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has traveled to New York to participate in the United Nations General Assembly, signaling a complex diplomatic stance amidst ongoing tensions with the United States.

Pezeshkian stated that war is not an option for the Iranian government, describing conflict as harmful to both the Iranian people and the global community. While emphasizing that Iran remains committed to its international agreements, he asserted that the nation will not yield to “force and intimidation.” He expressed deep suspicion toward adversaries, warning that negotiations could be exploited to cause harm, yet maintained that peace should not be rejected if security can be guaranteed.

Ahead of his address to the UN, Pezeshkian vowed to “strongly defend” Iran’s positions. He intends to use the platform to highlight the difficulties faced by the Iranian people. His visit marks the highest-level Iranian official to enter U.S. territory since the escalation of regional conflicts in late February. Despite the visit, the U.S. Department of State imposed travel restrictions on parts of the Iranian delegation, a move described by presidential spokesperson Habibollah Abbasi as an “hostile measure” after members of the president’s communications team were denied entry visas.