Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian emphasized during a visit to New York for the U.N. General Assembly meeting that Iran does not seek a wider war in the Middle East and called for dialogue to resolve tensions in the region. He blamed Israel for stoking conflict and criticized the U.S. and Western countries for double standards regarding human rights. Pezeshkian expressed interest in a return to the 2015 nuclear accord and denied accusations of promoting campus protests in the U.S. against Israel.
Iran’s vice president for strategic affairs, Mohammad Javad Zarif, echoed Pezeshkian’s comments and expressed readiness to work with other countries to end the conflict in Gaza. Zarif defended Iran’s right to retaliate over what he perceived as a violation of sovereignty when the head of Hamas was assassinated in Tehran. He also blamed the U.S. for withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear deal, leading to a lose-lose situation.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi indicated that Tehran is focused on initiating new rounds of nuclear negotiations, expressing willingness to engage in talks. However, the U.S. official stated that they are not expecting to talk to the Iranian government anytime soon and highlighted Iran’s provocative actions, such as selling ballistic missiles to Russia and blocking U.N. inspectors from visiting some nuclear sites.
Iran’s nuclear program and ongoing conflicts in the region, particularly in Gaza, have put the country at odds with the U.S. and its allies. The situation remains tense, with Iran seeking a peaceful resolution but also asserting its right to defend itself against perceived threats.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com
