In his first direct address at the United Nations General Assembly, Iran’s president, Ibrahim Raisi, underscored Tehran’s seriousness about reviving the nation’s economy and engaging in multilateral discussions regarding its nuclear program. He asserted that the United States’ actions have cast doubt on any renewed commitment, framing the U.S. stance as a key obstacle to progress in the revival effort.
Raisi contended that the United States abandoned the agreement reached in 2015 under Barack Obama, a deal that Washington later repudiated. Iran’s leader asked whether commitments would be honored this time, provided there are guarantees that such promises will be kept, and warned against relying on assurances alone without credible guarantees.
According to Raisi, Iran has adopted a stance of substantial flexibility in negotiations. He reiterated the Islamic Republic’s position that it is not pursuing nuclear weapons and emphasized that there is no intent to expand its doctrine or weapons programs. He criticized sanctions for their detrimental impact on the Iranian people and for contributing to insecurity in the region. He also questioned the approaches of Washington and European capitals, describing some positions as militaristic and arguing that the security framework should not be interpreted as military prowess. He stated that the United States pursues its own interests at the expense of others, which complicates the path to a robust and equitable agreement.
During a 40-minute remarks, Raisi criticized what he described as double standards in the international community. He highlighted that Iran conducts a small portion of its nuclear activities under close scrutiny, while broader inspection regimes have broader access elsewhere. He also pointed to Israel, noting that its nuclear program remains opaque and not subject to the same level of disclosure as others.
Protests and Soleimani
As Iran faces domestic tensions, with nationwide demonstrations following a tragic death linked to the morality police, Raisi chose not to directly address the incidents at the plenary session. He did, however, affirm that those who support Iran will stand firm in opposing any form of injustice and will defend the country against perceived threats.
During another moment of the discussion, the Israeli representative departed from the plenary. Raisi presented a image of General Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S.-led operation in 2020, and said that accountability for what he described as a crime would be pursued in a proper and fair judicial process. He asserted that Iran would continue to seek justice through lawful avenues and asserted that accountability must be sought within the bounds of international law, not through unilateral actions.