Says U.S., Israeli Attacks Strengthened Iran’s Unity

TEHRAN/UNITED NATIONS — President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday vehemently condemned the Israeli and U.S. military strikes against Iran in June, branding a “grave betrayal of diplomacy and a subversion of efforts” to bring peace and stability to the region. 
Speaking at the UN General Assembly, Pezeshkian outlined Tehran’s stance amid escalating hostilities, diplomatic impasses, and worsening humanitarian crises across West Asia.
Pezeshkian detailed the June 13 Israeli surprise aggression, which targeted and killed Iranian generals, scientists and civilians, alongside bombing Iran’s nuclear enrichment sites and air defense infrastructure.
He described the offensive as a “savage aggression in flagrant contravention of the most elementary principles of international law,” underscoring the blatant disregard for Iran’s sovereignty.
Following the Israeli attacks, Iran launched retaliatory missile and drone strikes on Israel. On June 22, the U.S. struck Iran’s nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, employing massive bunker-busting bombs in what Pezeshkian characterized as an unlawful assault on “internationally monitored facilities.” 
These actions, he said, came precisely when Iran was “treading the path of diplomatic negotiations,” thereby dealing a severe blow to hopes for a peaceful resolution.
“This aggression was a grave betrayal of diplomacy and a direct attempt to undermine efforts toward establishing stability and peace in our region,” Pezeshkian said, emphasizing that the attacks also targeted civilians, including women, children, and scientists — an affront to fundamental human rights and international law.
Drawing upon religious and ethical principles shared across cultures, Pezeshkian appealed to the assembly’s moral conscience. 
Quoting teachings from Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Eastern philosophy, he reminded delegates of the universal principle: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” 
During his speech, Pezeshkian held up a book featuring images and names of martyrs from the 12-day Sacred Defense. 
“The killings were carried out by Israel, who have sown insecurity and instability. They have continued this pattern by killing 35,000 innocent people in Gaza,” he said, linking the violence in Gaza to broader regional instability caused by Israel.
He questioned whether the international community could accept a world where innocent children and civilians were systematically killed, homes destroyed, and basic human rights violated under the guise of self-defense.
“Over the past two years, the world has witnessed genocide in Gaza, the destruction of homes, repeated violations of sovereignty and territorial integrity in Lebanon, the devastation of Syrian infrastructure, and assaults on the people of Yemen,” he said. 
“Forced starvation of weak children in the arms of their mothers, blatant breaches of national sovereignty, and the direct targeting of peoples and nations have been carried out with the unconditional support of the most powerful armed government in the world.”
He challenged the assembly: “Who disrupts the stability of the region and the world? Who poses a threat to international peace and security? Who violates the golden rule of human ethics?”
Pezeshkian criticized Britain, Germany, and France for attempting to restore UN sanctions on Iran through the “snapback” mechanism, despite the 2015 nuclear deal — the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) — which lifted many of these sanctions. 
He said these European powers are acting in “bad faith,” falsely portraying themselves as committed parties to the agreement while dismissing Iran’s “sincere efforts” as insufficient.
“This unlawful move by these countries, pressured and orchestrated by the United States, lacks legitimacy and international support,” he said, reiterating that Iran has “never and will never seek to build a nuclear bomb,” reaffirming the country’s uranium enrichment activities as strictly for peaceful purposes.
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, meanwhile, rejected any direct talks with the U.S. on nuclear matters, calling them a “dead end” and vowing not to “surrender to pressure,” as Tehran braces for the potential reimposition of UN sanctions.
Pezeshkian reflected on Iran’s historical resilience, describing the country as one of the world’s oldest continuous civilizations that has withstood centuries of turmoil and invasion. 
“Iran, the oldest continuous civilization in the world, has always stood firm against the storms of history. This nation, with a great spirit and eternal will, has repeatedly proven that it does not bow before invaders; and today, relying on the power of faith and national unity, it stands proudly against the aggressors.”
He emphasized that the recent 12-day war in June, despite Israel’s surprise military aggression and the U.S.-led strikes, only strengthened Iran’s national unity and resolve.
“In the face of the harshest economic sanctions, psychological warfare, and sustained efforts to sow division, the Iranian people stood united with their brave armed forces from the very first bullet fired on their soil,” he said. “The sacrifices of our martyrs will never be forgotten.”
He expressed gratitude to nations and international

 organizations that showed solidarity with Iran during the war.
Turning to the broader West Asia, Pezeshkian condemned the ongoing violence in Gaza as “genocide” and denounced Israel’s repeated violations of neighboring countries’ sovereignty, including Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen. 
He denounced the “forced starvation” of Palestinian children and the destruction of essential infrastructure, attributing such actions to an abuse of the self-defense narrative.
He warned that the so-called “Greater Israel” plan, openly promoted by Israeli leaders, threatens the entire region’s security and peace. 
“This plan encompasses many lands and is a clear declaration of Israel’s aggressive and expansionist intentions,” he said, urging the international community to recognize the grave dangers posed by such ambitions.
Highlighting Iran’s commitment to peace, Pezeshkian stressed the country’s support for a region free of weapons of mass destruction. 
“Iran has long been a staunch advocate for a Middle East free of nuclear arms and other weapons of mass destruction,” he said, contrasting this stance with the possession and expansion of nuclear arsenals by other powers in blatant violation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
He welcomed recent developments towards regional cooperation, including the peace efforts between Azerbaijan and Armenia, hopes for a fair resolution to the conflict in Ukraine, and defense pacts among Muslim nations such as Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
Pezeshkian closed his speech by calling for renewed commitment to international law, multilateralism, and regional cooperation grounded in mutual respect and trust.
“True security arises not through coercion or unilateral force, but through confidence-building, respect for sovereignty, and regional cooperation,” he stated. “I urge all to listen to each other, reject polarization and political violence, and embrace the common values that unite humanity.”
Invoking the poetry of Iran’s great classical poets such as Rumi, Hafez, and Saadi, he reminded delegates that “human beings are members of a whole, in creation of one essence and soul” — a call for empathy and solidarity transcending national and ideological divides.
“We reject the brutal tyranny that kills innocent children and wreaks havoc in the name of power,” he concluded. 
“Iran, rooted in its ancient culture of compassion, stands as a steadfast partner for all peace-loving nations — not out of convenience, but out of dignity, trust, and shared destiny.”