Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has vowed to strongly defend his country’s position at international forums as he prepares to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Pezeshkian made the statement on Tuesday while departing Iran for the UN meeting, where he is expected to address the international community on Wednesday.
The Iranian president said his country would use the opportunity to explain its situation and defend its position despite what he described as unfair treatment and injustice.
“We will make the best possible use of this opportunity to convey Iran’s plight to the international community. We will firmly tell our adversaries that, despite all the unfairness and injustices, the Iranian people have stood their ground,” he said.
Pezeshkian also said Iran had emerged from the ongoing conflict with its dignity intact and would continue to defend its interests in international forums.
His visit makes him the highest-ranking Iranian official to travel to the United States since the Middle East war began in late February following US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
The United States has approved UN visits for some members of the Iranian delegation despite the conflict. However, the delegation will face movement restrictions, according to the US State Department.
Members of Pezeshkian’s communications team were not authorised to travel to the United States after their visa applications were denied. Iranian presidential spokesman Habibollah Abbassi described the decision as “hostile,” according to local media.
A major issue in the conflict remains the reopening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a key international maritime route.
Before the war, the waterway carried about one-fifth of the world’s hydrocarbons. However, traffic through the corridor has been severely disrupted, with Iran firing on commercial vessels and requiring approval for ships to pass.
The United States, in response, has maintained a counterblockade of Iranian ports while increasing economic pressure on Tehran.
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