During the United Nations General Assembly session, the Iranian delegation exited the hall as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his address. Before departing, the Iranian representatives placed a portrait of Qasem Soleimani on their vacant desk. Soleimani, the former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force, was killed in a 2020 U.S. drone strike authorized by then-President Donald Trump.

The act serves as a highly visible diplomatic protest, highlighting the ongoing tensions between Tehran and Jerusalem. While Netanyahu utilized his platform to address regional security concerns and the conflict in Gaza, the Iranian delegation's departure and the placement of the portrait functioned as a direct rebuttal to the Israeli leadership. The gesture specifically invokes the memory of a figure whom Iran views as a martyr and a key architect of its regional military strategy, while Israel and the United States have historically characterized him as a primary sponsor of regional instability and terrorism.

This incident reflects the deep-seated diplomatic hostility that has defined the relationship between the two nations for decades. By leaving the seat occupied by a symbol of their military leadership, Iran signaled its refusal to engage with or acknowledge the legitimacy of the Israeli Prime Minister’s remarks. No official statement was immediately provided by the Iranian mission regarding the specific timing of the walkout, though it follows a pattern of diplomatic friction at international forums.