Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian sharply criticized Israel during his address to the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, speaking about the assassination of Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and the attacks on Iran.
Pezeshkian said that during the period in which he assumed office as Iran’s president, Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran, accusing Israel of carrying out assassinations and attacks in the region.
The Iranian president added that Israel “bombs the governments, countries and areas it wants and carries out assassinations,” accusing it of using its technological and military superiority in its operations.
During his speech, Pezeshkian asked: “Are we the source of instability?” He said that Iranians want to live independently and reject submission to external pressure.
The Iranian president stressed that his country considers itself a victim of terrorism and military attacks, rejecting accusations that Tehran is a source of instability in the region.
Pezeshkian displays photographs before the General Assembly
During his speech, Pezeshkian displayed photographs that he said showed Iranian victims killed in US and Israeli attacks, stressing that his country had done nothing except defend itself.
He also stressed that Iran is ready for dialogue, diplomacy and negotiations, but said it would not accept negotiations conducted under the language of force and threats.
Pezeshkian’s speech came amid rising regional tensions, with the president devoting a large part of his address to responding to US and Israeli accusations against Iran.
