Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian used his UN General Assembly address to say Iran's people have been 'victims of terrorism' by the United States, prompting the US delegation to walk out during his remarks, according to the Guardian.
Key facts
- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed the UN General Assembly.
- Pezeshkian said Iran's people have been 'victims of terrorism' by the United States, according to the Guardian.
- He said 'we have only defended ourselves.'
- The US delegation walked out during his speech, the Guardian reported.
- The remarks came hours before Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy was due to address the assembly.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told the United Nations General Assembly that his country’s people had been ‘victims of terrorism’ by the United States, according to the Guardian’s live coverage of the gathering.
During his address, Pezeshkian said ‘we have only defended ourselves,’ framing Iran’s actions as defensive.
As the Iranian leader spoke, the US delegation walked out of the chamber, the Guardian reported.
The remarks came just hours before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was scheduled to deliver his own address to the General Assembly. The Guardian reported that, as of its coverage, there had been no public comment from Zelenskyy or Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha.
Why it matters
Direct accusations between Iran and the United States at the UN underline continued tension between the two governments on a prominent global stage. A walkout by the US delegation signals the depth of the diplomatic rift as leaders gather at the General Assembly.
Frequently asked questions
What did Iran's president say at the UN?
Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran's people had been 'victims of terrorism' by the United States and that 'we have only defended ourselves,' according to the Guardian.
How did the United States respond?
The US delegation walked out of the chamber during Pezeshkian's speech, according to the Guardian's live coverage.
Was this connected to Zelenskyy's UN address?
The remarks came just hours before Volodymyr Zelenskyy was due to address the assembly, and the Guardian said he was likely to reflect on them during his speech. No public comment had been made by Zelenskyy or Ukraine's foreign minister at the time of the report.