NEW YORK: (September 23, 2026) Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has told the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly that Iran will not surrender in the ongoing war with the United States, while stressing that the door to diplomacy and negotiations remains open. He said, however, that Tehran would not accept negotiations conducted under threats, military pressure or coercion.

Addressing the 193-member General Assembly, President Pezeshkian said Iran could not be forced to submit and that the Iranian people would not bow to pressure. He said Tehran believed in diplomacy and was prepared to pursue a negotiated solution, but negotiations must be based on mutual respect and equality.

The Iranian president strongly criticized the military actions by the United States and Israel against Iran, saying that the Iranian people had been subjected to attacks and that Tehran had exercised its right to self-defence. He also rejected allegations against Iran of sponsoring terrorism and said attempts to pressure Tehran through such accusations would not succeed.

Pezeshkian also responded to remarks made by US President Donald Trump in his address to the General Assembly a day earlier. Trump had called for an agreement to end the conflict with Iran and warned of further US action if no deal was reached.

The Iranian president also raised the issue of the Strait of Hormuz, saying it was unacceptable for the world to benefit from the strategic waterway while Iran was denied the ability to use it for navigation. He warned that the continued deployment of hostile naval forces and further expansion of the war would not bring peace.

According to Reuters, the US delegation walked out of the General Assembly chamber as President Pezeshkian’s speech began. The US mission did not immediately comment on the move.

Pezeshkian’s address came amid the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States and diplomatic efforts surrounding the UN General Assembly session. Iran has maintained that it is prepared to discuss reopening the Strait of Hormuz if US military pressure is reduced and the blockade of Iranian ports is lifted.

The central message of the Iranian president’s address was that Tehran does not seek to continue the war indefinitely and remains open to diplomacy, but will not change its position as a result of US threats or military pressure.