Iranian leader tells UN meeting his country is ‘ready to engage’ on nuclear deal if all participants act ‘in good faith’.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that he wants to open a “constructive” chapter in his country’s international relations and that Tehran is “ready to engage” with the West over its nuclear programme.
In his first speech at the UN’s annual gathering of world leaders on Tuesday, Pezeshkian also strongly criticised Israel for what he called “its genocide in Gaza” and its “atrocities”, “crimes against humanity” and “desperate barbarism” in its war on the Palestinian territory as well as attacks on Lebanon.
“I aim to lay a strong foundation for my country’s entry into a new era, positioning it to play an effective and constructive role in the evolving global order,” Pezeshkian told the UNGA.
“We seek peace for all and have no intention of conflict with any country … Iran opposes war and emphasises the need for an immediate cessation of military conflict in Ukraine,” Pezeshkian said.
“We are ready to engage with participants of the 2015 nuclear deal. If the deal’s commitments are implemented fully and in good faith, dialogue on other issues can follow,” he said.
Directly addressing the American people, Pezeshkian listed a number of Iranian grievances, including crippling sanctions placed on Iran by the United States and the 2020 killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in a US drone strike during the era of former President Donald Trump.
The US, under Trump, abandoned the 2015 nuclear pact between Tehran and six world powers in 2018 and reimposed tough sanctions on Iran. Efforts since to revive the pact have failed.
Speaking last week about the relationship between the US and Israel at an event hosted by his campaign for the 2024 presidential election, Trump spoke about his record of supporting Israel during his presidency, including recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and Israel’s sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights.
Trump also said he had been told the “best thing” he had done for Israel was terminating the Iran nuclear deal, describing the 2015 agreement as “the worst deal ever made for Israel”.
Al Jazeera’s Mike Hanna said the Iranian president’s tone at the UNGA “could be described as moderate”.
“He implied that he does not want to see any further regionalisation of the ongoing…