Iran doubles down on nuclear-free promise at UN: ‘We never had and never will’

“Iran has never sought and will never seek to build a nuclear bomb,” Pezeshkian said during his address to world leaders in New York.

Pezeshkian said accusations against Tehran were misplaced, arguing that the real destabilising force in the Middle East was Israel. He accused the international community of punishing Iran while turning a blind eye to what he called Israeli aggression.

“Iran has never sought and will never seek to build a nuclear bomb,” he said. “Whereas those who disturb the peace and stability in the region are lies in Israel. But Iran is the one that is being punished for those actions.”

“We Iranians have extended their power in the world, not by producing and employing nuclear weapons, nor by the slaughter of hundreds of thousands in the 20th century, nor by genocide and the imposition of starvation upon the children in Gaza in the 21st century,” he added.

Pezeshkian invoked the Persian poet Saadi to emphasise the moral weight of his message, saying that those responsible for the killing of children did not deserve to be regarded as trustworthy partners.

“If you have no sympathy for human pain, the name of human you cannot pertain,” he said. “Those criminals who bully by murdering children are not worthy of the name human being and assuredly they shall never prove to be trustworthy partners.”

The Iranian leader also sought to portray his country as a reliable actor on the global stage. 

“Relying upon its time-honored tradition of altruism and human fellowship, Iran is a steadfast partner and a trustworthy companion for all peace seeking countries of friendship and the partnership grounded not in fleeting expediency but in dignity, trust, and a shared future,” he said.

His speech came two months after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened further strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, warning that Washington would “wipe out” any attempt by Tehran to restart its programme. 

Iran has consistently denied seeking nuclear weapons, maintaining that its activities are for civilian energy purposes. Tehran’s foreign minister warned at the time that any repeat of U.S. or Israeli attacks would be met with a “decisive” response.