Tahran- Iran | September 24, 2025
Pezeshkian at UN: Iran Will ‘Never Seek’ a Nuclear Bomb, Blames West for Escalation
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian used his first address to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to declare that Iran “has never sought and will never seek to build a nuclear bomb.” In a speech that blended diplomatic overtures with sharp accusations against the West, Pezeshkian defended Iran’s nuclear program as peaceful and accused European powers of acting in “bad faith” and “at the behest of the United States.” The remarks come as Iran faces the looming threat of the “snapback” mechanism, which would reinstate UN sanctions that were lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal.
Headline Points
* Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reaffirmed Iran’s official position that its nuclear program is peaceful and has no military dimension.
* He criticized European powers for triggering the “snapback” sanctions mechanism, accusing them of a lack of good faith in their diplomatic efforts.
* Pezeshkian strongly condemned the US and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and other infrastructure that occurred in June 2025.
* The President stated that Iran’s actions, including its reduction of cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), are “lawful remedial measures” in response to the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal and European non-compliance.
* His address marked a significant moment as it was his first appearance at a major international forum since the “12-day war” that erupted in June, and came just days after Iran withdrew a resolution at the UN nuclear watchdog aimed at condemning attacks on its nuclear sites.
A Defiant Stance on the Nuclear Program
The central message of President Pezeshkian’s speech was a firm and repeated denial of any intention to develop nuclear weapons. He stated that the pursuit of weapons of mass destruction is forbidden under religious edicts from Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This stance, while a long-standing position of the Islamic Republic, was given new emphasis as Iran faces renewed international pressure over its nuclear activities. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reported that Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium is many times the limit permitted under the 2015 deal, and the country is the only non-nuclear-weapon state to enrich uranium to 60%, a short technical step from weapons-grade levels.
Pezeshkian’s remarks directly address the current diplomatic crisis. The E3—Britain, France, and Germany—have already moved to trigger the “snapback” mechanism to reinstate UN sanctions, citing what they call Iran’s continued non-compliance with the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The Iranian President accused the European nations of acting in “bad faith” and disregarding Iran’s efforts to uphold its commitments, particularly after the United States’ unilateral withdrawal from the accord in 2018.
Condemnation of Military Aggression
In his address, President Pezeshkian also condemned the coordinated US and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities that occurred in June 2025. He referred to the attacks as “savage aggression” and a “flagrant contravention of the most elementary principles of international law.” The strikes, which were reportedly “pre-emptive” in nature, have been a major point of tension and are a significant backdrop to the ongoing diplomatic standoff.
Pezeshkian’s speech, which comes just days after Iran, China, and Russia withdrew a resolution at the IAEA that would have condemned the attacks, underscores the deep fractures in global relations. The Iranian President portrayed his country as a victim of aggression and coercion, insisting that “the Iranian nation has time and again demonstrated that it shall never bow before aggressors.” He also strongly condemned what he called “genocide” in Gaza, drawing a parallel between the conflict there and what he sees as a larger project to destabilize the region.
A Path Forward?
Despite his strong condemnation of Western actions, Pezeshkian ended his speech with a call for cooperation and dialogue. He stated that Iran is a “steadfast partner and a trustworthy companion for all peace-seeking countries” and is ready to “turn threats into opportunities.” However, this message of reconciliation is tempered by the hardline stance of Iran’s Supreme Leader, who recently ruled out direct talks with the United States. The international community is now waiting to see if a last-minute diplomatic solution can be found to avert the reimposition of a full suite of UN sanctions.
