Pezeshkian Tells UN Iran Open to Talks but Rejects 'Language of Force'

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told the United Nations General Assembly that Iran remains open to talks but will not accept being addressed through the "language of force," declaring "we will never bow our head."

In his address, Pezeshkian reiterated that Iran is not pursuing nuclear weapons, a position Tehran has long maintained amid international scrutiny of its nuclear program. He said Iran nonetheless has an "inherent" right to develop peaceful nuclear technology, framing this as a matter of sovereign entitlement rather than a point open to negotiation.

The speech comes against a backdrop of continued tension between Iran and Western governments over the scope and oversight of its nuclear activities, with the two sides holding sharply different views on how peaceful nuclear development should be verified and constrained.

Pezeshkian's remarks combined a defiant tone toward pressure tactics with an explicit signal that Iran remains willing to engage diplomatically, suggesting Tehran continues to see a negotiated path as viable even as it resists what it characterizes as coercive approaches from other governments.

The UN General Assembly speech adds to a series of recent statements from Iranian officials addressing the country's nuclear program and its relations with the international community, as the broader diplomatic standoff over Iran's nuclear activities continues without a clear resolution.