TEHRAN: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has travelled to New York for the United Nations General Assembly, saying the gathering could provide an opportunity to rebuild international trust and support efforts to end ongoing wars.
Pezeshkian made the remarks before leaving Tehran for the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, which is being held under the theme of restoring trust and managing global transformation. He is expected to address the assembly on Wednesday and present Iran’s position on the continuing conflict and broader international issues.
The Iranian president said the UN meeting offered a platform to discuss declining confidence in international institutions and seek ways to reduce tensions between countries.
He also said Iran would use the gathering to highlight what Tehran describes as the hardships suffered by the Iranian people during the ongoing conflict.
Iran prepares to present its case
Pezeshkian said his delegation would raise issues related to actions taken against Iran and the impact on civilians.
Iranian officials have particularly highlighted casualties from attacks on civilian locations, including a girls’ school in Minab. A UN human rights mandate document published in July said it had received information about the February 28 bombing of the school, reporting that at least 168 people were killed, most of them women and girls. The document records allegations and information received by the UN mechanism; it is not itself a final judicial determination of criminal responsibility.
Pezeshkian is expected to use his UN appearance to put Tehran’s grievances before an international audience and defend Iran’s position in the conflict.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has also arrived in New York and said the General Assembly would provide an opportunity to discuss the loss of trust in international institutions and ways to restore it.
Diplomatic opening amid war
The Iranian president’s visit comes as the conflict between Iran and the United States remains unresolved, while diplomatic possibilities continue to be discussed.
The United States has granted visas to Pezeshkian and parts of the Iranian delegation for the UN gathering, although some members of his communications team were denied entry visas. The delegation is also subject to movement restrictions in New York, according to reports.
Pezeshkian’s presence also creates an opportunity for meetings with other world leaders. Iranian officials say he is scheduled to hold several bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the General Assembly.
US President Donald Trump has not ruled out the possibility of meeting Pezeshkian, although no confirmed meeting between the two leaders has been announced. The wider UN gathering is expected to focus heavily on conflicts in the Middle East and other international crises.
For Tehran, the General Assembly represents a major international platform to present its account of the war and appeal for greater diplomatic engagement.
As world leaders gather in New York, Pezeshkian is expected to focus his message on trust, civilian suffering, international law and the need for an end to conflict, making his address one of the closely watched speeches of this year’s UN high-level debate.
