In an 18-minute speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed international accusations regarding his country's role in global instability. Pezeshkian specifically pushed back against rhetoric from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has frequently labeled Iran a state sponsor of terrorism. Pezeshkian argued that the Iranian people are the true victims of terrorism, asserting that the U.S. and its allies are responsible for training and protecting groups that target Iran.

This diplomatic exchange occurs against the backdrop of ongoing regional conflicts involving Israel and various Iranian-backed proxies. While Pezeshkian utilized the UN platform to shift the narrative, the speech highlighted the deep-seated ideological divide between Tehran and Washington. The Iranian president’s remarks serve as a direct rebuttal to U.S. foreign policy stances, which have long identified Iran as a primary source of regional unrest. The speech did not provide specific policy concessions, but rather functioned as a public defense of Iran’s international standing amidst escalating tensions in the Middle East.