Pres. Pezeshkian: Iran Has Always Stood Firm Against the Storms of History
Those who bully by killing children are not worthy of the name “human,” and they will certainly not be reliable partners.
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On Wednesday, President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed the United Nations General Assembly, stating:
“In the twelve-day defense, the patriotic and brave people of Iran exposed the delusional calculations of arrogant aggressors. The enemies of Iran inadvertently reinforced our sacred national unity. Despite the harshest, longest, and most severe economic sanctions, psychological and media warfare, and persistent efforts to sow division, the Iranian people, upon the first bullet fired at their soil, united in support of their valiant armed forces—and today, they honor the blood of their martyrs.” Full Speech of the President: In the name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful
Mr. Secretary-General,
Madam President,
Distinguished Representatives,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
This year’s theme—“Eighty Years and Beyond for Peace, Development, and Human Rights”—is truly a call for solidarity and a shared vision of a brighter future. Our religious beliefs and the teachings of all prophets are based on the equality of human rights. What makes a person truly worthy is piety: truthfulness, wisdom, purity, and compassion.
The foundation of all divine religions and human conscience is the golden rule: “Do not do unto others what you would not want done unto yourself.” Jesus (PBUH) said: “Treat others as you wish to be treated.” The Prophet of Islam (PBUH) said: “None of you is a true believer until he desires for others what he desires for himself.” Rabbi Hillel summarized the Torah: “What is hateful to you, do not do to others.” Eastern traditions also center on this principle, and secular moral philosophies, through reason and conscience, have reached the same conclusion. Excellencies,
Is our world truly built on this principle? Let us look at the past two years:
The world witnessed genocide in Gaza; the destruction of homes and repeated violations of sovereignty in Lebanon; the dismantling of Syria’s infrastructure; attacks on the people of Yemen; the forced starvation of emaciated children in their mothers’ arms; covert assaults on national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and direct targeting of national leaders—all backed by the most heavily armed government in the world, under the pretext of self-defense. Would you accept this for yourselves?
Who is destabilizing the region and the world? Who threatens international peace and security? Who violates the golden moral rule of humanity? Ladies and Gentlemen,
You all witnessed that last June, my country was subjected to a savage and unlawful attack, in blatant violation of international law. Airstrikes by the Zionist regime and the United States targeted Iranian cities, homes, and infrastructure—precisely while we were engaged in diplomatic negotiations. This brazen aggression was a betrayal of diplomacy and a blow to peace efforts. It resulted in the martyrdom of commanders, civilians, children, women, scientists, and intellectuals, and dealt a heavy blow to international trust and regional peace prospects.
If we do not stand against such dangerous violations, these precedents will spread: attacks on nuclear facilities under international safeguards, open attempts to assassinate leaders of UN member states, systematic targeting of journalists and media professionals, and the killing of individuals simply for their knowledge and expertise. Would you accept this for yourselves?
Those who commit these crimes must know that Iran, the world’s oldest continuous civilization, has always stood firm against the storms of history. This nation, with its grand spirit and enduring will, has repeatedly proven that it does not bow to invaders; and today, it stands tall against aggressors, relying on the power of faith and national unity.
In the twelve-day defense, the patriotic and brave people of Iran exposed the delusional calculations of arrogant aggressors. The enemies of Iran inadvertently reinforced our sacred national unity. Despite the harshest, longest, and most severe economic sanctions, psychological and media warfare, and persistent efforts to sow division, the Iranian people, upon the first bullet fired at their soil, united in support of their valiant armed forces—and today, they honor the blood of their martyrs.
On behalf of the people of Iran, I sincerely thank all individuals, nations, governments, and international and regional organizations that stood in solidarity with Iran during this war. Ladies and Gentlemen,
Today, after nearly two years of genocide, collective starvation, continued apartheid in the occupied territories, and aggression against neighboring countries, the delusional and outrageous plan for a “Greater Israel” is being openly promoted by the highest levels of that regime.
This plan encompasses many territories in the region. It reveals the true intentions of the Zionist regime, recently confirmed by its Prime Minister. No one in the world is safe from the regime’s expansionist ambitions.
Clearly, the Zionist regime and its supporters no longer seek political normalization. They impose their presence through brute force, calling it “peace through power.” But this is neither peace nor power—it is aggression rooted in bullying and tyranny.
We envision a powerful Iran alongside powerful neighbors in a strong region with a bright future. We oppose grand projects that impose genocide, destruction, and instability on the region. Instead, we defend a shared and hopeful vision:
A vision of collective security through real mechanisms of defensive cooperation and joint response to threats
A vision that upholds human dignity and cultural diversity as foundational values
A vision of collective development through joint investment in infrastructure and advanced knowledge
A vision that sees energy security and fair resource utilization as pillars of economic stability
A vision that protects the environment for future generations
A vision that considers national sovereignty and territorial integrity as non-negotiable principles
A vision not of peace through force, but of “power through peace”
In this strong region, there is no place for killing and bloodshed. That is why Iran has long been one of the staunchest advocates for a region free of weapons of mass destruction. Yet those who possess the largest nuclear arsenals and blatantly violate the NPT continue to make their weapons deadlier, while subjecting our people to pressure based on baseless accusations.
Last week, three European countries—after failing to subdue the proud people of Iran through a decade of broken promises and support for military aggression—attempted, under U.S. orders, to reinstate canceled Security Council resolutions against Iran through pressure, coercion, and blatant abuse.
They abandoned goodwill, bypassed legal obligations, misrepresented Iran’s lawful countermeasures to the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA and Europe’s failure, falsely portrayed themselves as “credible parties,” and labeled Iran’s sincere efforts as “insufficient.” All this, to destroy the very JCPOA they once hailed as a landmark achievement in multilateral diplomacy.
This illegal action, opposed by some Security Council members, lacks international legitimacy and will not be welcomed by the global community.
Once again, I declare before this Assembly: Iran has never sought and will never seek to build a nuclear bomb. Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes peace and stability. We believe the future of our region and the world must be built on cooperation, trust, and shared development. In this spirit, Iran supports the peace process between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia and hopes it leads to lasting improvement in their relations. Iran also hopes efforts to end the war in Ukraine result in a fair and sustainable agreement between Russia and Ukraine.
Iran welcomes the defense pact between two brotherly Muslim nations, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, as a starting point for a comprehensive regional security system involving Muslim countries of West Asia in political, security, and defense cooperation. Finally, Iran condemns the criminal aggression of the Zionist regime against Qatar, which led to the martyrdom of several Palestinian and Qatari citizens, and declares its support and solidarity with the government and people of Qatar. Ladies and Gentlemen,
True security is not achieved through force, but through trust-building, mutual respect, regional convergence, and multilateralism based on international law. On this basis, I invite everyone to practice “listening” instead of raising voices; to rethink the foundations of polarization and political violence that now afflict not only the international community but also domestic societies; and to embrace the shared principle across all beliefs and cultures: do not impose on others what you would not accept for yourself.
Let us restore and rebuild the credibility of international legal institutions and mechanisms, and commit to establishing a regional security and cooperation system in West Asia. Ladies and Gentlemen,
We Iranians have extended our influence in the world—not through nuclear weapons or mass killings in the 20th century, nor through genocide and starvation of Gaza’s children in the 21st century, and not even through the empires of ancient Iran—but through the culture of compassion and the message of empathy from world-renowned poets like Rumi, Hafez, and Saadi, who said 800 years ago: "Human beings are members of a whole,
In creation of one essence and soul.
If one member is afflicted with pain,
Other members uneasy will remain.
If you have no sympathy for human pain,
The name of human you cannot retain." Those who bully by killing children are not worthy of the name “human,” and they will certainly not be reliable partners.
Iran, drawing upon its ancient tradition of compassion, stands as a steadfast partner and a trustworthy ally for all peace-seeking nations—a friendship and partnership not built on fleeting convenience, but founded on dignity, trust, and a shared future. We, the upright people of Iran, have proudly withstood lawless aggressors, injustice, discrimination, and double standards—and we will continue to do so.
Today, with a forward-looking perspective, we transform this historic achievement of the Iranian people into a platform for a leap toward a hopeful future. Join us in turning threats into opportunities.
