Iranian FM Araghchi Says Defending Iranians' Rights Is Tehran's Main UN Goal

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in New York that Iran's central objective at the United Nations is to defend the legitimacy, rights, and interests of the Iranian people, according to Iran's state news agency IRNA.

Araghchi's remarks came as Iranian officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, gathered in New York for the UN General Assembly's high-level week, during which member states present their positions on major international issues and engage in diplomatic meetings on the sidelines of the formal proceedings.

Framing Iran's Diplomatic Priorities

The foreign minister's comments reflect a recurring theme in Iranian diplomacy at the UN, where officials have consistently sought to use the platform to push back against what Tehran characterizes as unfair treatment by the international community, including sanctions imposed by the United States and its allies over Iran's nuclear program and regional activities.

Araghchi, a veteran diplomat who has played a central role in Iran's nuclear negotiations in recent years, is expected to hold a series of meetings with counterparts from other countries during his time in New York, alongside his role supporting President Pezeshkian's participation in the Assembly's high-level segment.

Iran's government has repeatedly stated that it seeks to defend what it describes as its sovereign rights on the international stage, while also expressing openness to diplomatic engagement aimed at resolving outstanding disputes, including those related to its nuclear program. Tehran's positioning at the UN this year comes against a backdrop of continued regional tensions across the Middle East.

The Iranian delegation's activities in New York are expected to continue throughout the General Assembly's high-level week, with further statements and bilateral meetings anticipated as world leaders address the Assembly and hold sideline discussions on pressing global issues.