Iranian President Calls for Dialogue While Criticising U.S. Actions at UN
Iran's president said Tehran is ready for negotiations without force, even as he accused the United States of aggression, and a three-hour meeting between Iranian and U.S. officials was described as constructive.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed the United Nations General Assembly, asserting that Iran remains willing to engage in dialogue and diplomacy but rejected any language that implies the use of force. > "It must be understood by President Trump and those who seek to bully us that we are ready for dialogue and diplomacy and negotiations but without the language of force," he said.
Pezeshkian also accused the United States of terrorism in the early stages of the conflict and claimed that Iran has only acted in self-defence. He reiterated that Iran’s nuclear programme is intended for peaceful civil use and does not aim to develop nuclear weapons.
During the same session, U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that he was considering a severe response to Iran, while also acknowledging ongoing talks between the two sides. A three-hour meeting between Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, mediated by Qatar, was described by both parties as constructive, though the U.S. delegation left the hall when Pezeshkian began speaking.
The Iranian president highlighted the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, stating that Iran would not allow the waterway to be used for transporting arms against it and suggesting future inspections of vessels. He indicated that Iran seeks to reopen the strait within a week if its conditions—ending the war, halting U.S. aggressive actions, lifting the naval siege, and releasing Iranian assets—are met.
Hard-line officials in Tehran, including the secretary of the supreme national security council, warned that negotiations would not proceed until all Iranian demands are satisfied and cautioned regional neighbours against aligning with the United States.
The foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei confirmed that the talks conveyed Iran’s preconditions and noted that they were conducted under Qatari mediation. He did not indicate any change in Iran’s negotiating stance.
The discussions occur amid broader regional tensions, with the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab strait experiencing reduced commercial traffic due to blockades and uncertainty over control by Houthi forces. The United States faces domestic pressure to reduce oil prices ahead of upcoming elections, while Iran contends with intensified sanctions that limit its oil exports and civil aviation operations.