Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, amid an ongoing military conflict with the United States. His remarks followed a Tuesday speech by President Donald Trump at the same venue, where the U.S. leader discussed the possibility of a diplomatic deal or the alternative of "annihilating" the Islamic Republic.
The exchange occurred during the 81st session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, which drew approximately 130 heads of state. The war between the U.S. and Iran is entering its eighth month, following the start of U.S.-Israeli military actions on February 28. A recent U.N. Human Rights Council report cited "reasonable grounds to believe" that the U.S. committed war crimes during February attacks on an Iranian school and residential area.
During his address, Pezeshkian held up a portrait of the late supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of the conflict, and photos of children he identified as victims of a U.S. bombing. He stated that Iran does not seek nuclear weapons but will not accept limitations on its civilian nuclear program. Pezeshkian told the assembly that Iran is "ready for dialogue and diplomacy" but will not accept "the language of force."
President Trump told the assembly on Tuesday that he believes a deal could be reached following the U.S. midterm elections in November. He stated he is considering whether to facilitate a deal for Iran to rebuild or to "annihilate" the country to prevent it from harming others. Despite the rhetoric, both sides confirmed diplomatic activity; Trump and U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz noted a three-hour meeting between U.S. and Iranian officials, while Iran’s Foreign Ministry reported exchanging messages through Qatar.
The ongoing conflict affects millions of civilians in the Middle East and U.S. military personnel stationed in the region. The U.N. Human Rights Council has raised concerns about civilian casualties, specifically citing U.S. military strikes in February. The war has also had a financial impact on U.S. households through energy costs. According to AAA, the national average for gasoline reached $4.47 per gallon, a 50% increase since the conflict began, while diesel prices rose to $6.52 per gallon as of Tuesday.
The diplomatic situation occurs as the U.S. navigates domestic elections and other global tensions, such as the war between Russia and Ukraine. The Iranian government has tied future negotiations to specific changes: the halting of U.S. hostilities, the lifting of a U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports, and the release of frozen Iranian funds.
The immediate next steps involve the conclusion of the U.N. high-level week and the upcoming U.S. midterm elections in November 2026. President Trump indicated that major diplomatic breakthroughs are unlikely until after those elections, suggesting that current military and economic pressures, including the naval blockade, will persist. Negotiators from both sides remain in contact through intermediaries in Qatar as they review proposals brought to the table during the New York meetings.