Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian departed Tehran on Tuesday for New York. He headed to the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. Before boarding his flight at Mehrabad International Airport, he made clear his intent. He vowed to firmly defend Iran’s positions in international forums.
Pezeshkian spoke of recent hardships faced by the Iranian people and armed forces. He stated that the nation emerged with its head held high after foreign aggression. “We emerged from it with our heads held high, and this is a source of dignity and pride for all of us. Therefore, we will firmly defend our positions in international forums,” he said.
The president described the UN gathering as a key platform. He noted that leaders could share messages, grievances, and national strength there. Furthermore, he planned to engage with politicians, cultural groups, and media outlets from many countries.
Pezeshkian pointed to the session’s theme of restoring trust among nations. He observed that trust remained absent on the world stage. In addition, he accused some powers of violating international legal frameworks through force.
“Attending the UN General Assembly is an opportunity for us to convey our positions, the injustice we have endured, and our strength to the world,” he emphasized.
He added that Iran had entered negotiations multiple times and signed agreements. Yet those understandings were disregarded. At the assembly, he said, he would address the grievances of the Iranian people, the crimes committed by enemies, and the resulting mistrust.
Pezeshkian referred to the US-Israeli actions that targeted Iran from late February until early April. These included strikes on civilian sites. He asked whether attacking homes and hospitals constituted a fight against terrorism.
Meanwhile, US authorities approved visas for part of the Iranian delegation. However, they imposed movement restrictions. They also denied visas to the president’s media team. Pezeshkian viewed this step as an effort to block the Iranian people’s voice.
He expressed confidence that the Iranian nation would continue to stand firm under the leadership of Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei and through national unity. The president was scheduled to address the assembly later in the week.