Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian delivered a speech to the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, where he accused the United States and Israel of "terrorism" and "genocide." During the address, a U.S. representative walked out of the assembly in response to Pezeshkian’s remarks.
The speech followed a Tuesday address by U.S. President Donald Trump, who suggested he might "annihilate" the Islamic Republic if a deal to end the war was not reached soon. While Trump later mentioned a "very good meeting" between his chief envoys—Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner—and Iranian officials, the Iranian Foreign Ministry downplayed the significance of the talks.
Pezeshkian displayed images of schoolchildren he stated were killed by U.S. and Israeli weapons, specifically citing an attack on a sports hall in the city of Lamerd. He also referenced the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on his inauguration day. Pezeshkian stated that Iran has only defended itself and has not targeted civilian populations, while U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. remains open to a deal for a "prosperous" Iran if it ends its nuclear ambitions and "support of terrorism."
The conflict directly impacts the residents of Gaza and the broader region. The U.S.-backed Board of Peace proposed a six-month, $2.45 billion reconstruction plan on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, to address infrastructure, education, and health needs. However, the board noted that total physical damage in Gaza will cost roughly $35.2 billion in the medium term and $71.4 billion over the next decade. Currently, the Israeli military occupies approximately 60% of the territory, and the majority of Palestinians remain in tent camps or ruins.
Political developments also impact civil rights within Israel, where the election commission voted on Wednesday to disqualify major Arab political parties, including the United Arab List (Ra’am) and the Joint List, from next month's polls. The move, requested by the Likud party and others, prevents these candidates from running based on laws regarding the rejection of Israel's existence or support for armed struggle. The parties have stated they will appeal to the Supreme Court before the elections, which will be the first since the October 7, 2023, attacks. In the West Bank, a vehicle-ramming attack on Wednesday seriously injured Neria Leiter, the son of Israel's ambassador to the U.S., leading to increased military deployment near the settlement of Beit Horon.
The United Nations General Assembly sessions continue this week, with the Israeli elections and potential appeals regarding party disqualifications scheduled for October 2026. Maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz remains under active monitoring by the UKMTO following the latest ship fire and abandonment.