UNGA 2026 highlights: ‘Iran ready for diplomacy, not language of force,' says Pezeshkian at UNGA
UNGA 2026 highlights: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed the UNGA today and said that Tehran has been a victim of “terrorism”. “We did not hit civilian population,” he said.
UNGA 2026 highlights: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) today in New York and said that Tehran has been a “victim of terrorism”. He also said that it is Israel which possesses the weapons of mass destruction but sanctions are imposed on Iran....Read More
The Iranian President said that the ongoing war was imposed on them.
“It must be understood by Trump and those who seek to bully Iran that we are ready for dialogue and diplomacy and negitiations without accepting the language of force,” Pezeshkian said.
Pezeshkian's remarks come after US President Donald Trump warned on Monday that he was deciding between “annihilating” the Islamic Republic and making a peace deal with them.
Ahead of his departure for New York, Pezeshkian said Iran would forcefully present its position at international forums.
“We will forcefully raise Iran's positions in international forums. The issues we will raise at the United Nations are expressing the oppressed state of the Iranian nation, the crimes that have occurred, and the distrust that has been created. We went to the negotiating table several times and signed agreements, but unfortunately, the whole world saw how commitments were not fulfilled and the writings were trampled underfoot,” he said en route to the US, according to ANI.
What Trump said on Iran
Speaking from the UNGA podium, Trump warned that he could “annihilate the Islamic Republic” if no deal is reached to end the conflict.
“But I have a big decision to make. Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before? Maybe one of the greatest in the Middle East or even the world. Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic, and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again? But I believe we'll make a deal right after the election, because it doesn't make sense for them not to,” Trump said.
Trump also said Iran was waiting to see how he performs in the US midterm election while maintaining that the election would not affect his approach to Tehran.
“They're waiting to see how I do in the midterm election. What they don't realise is that I'm not running,” the US President said.
Which country heads/representatives will speak today?
In the morning session, speakers are Syria, Latvia, Romania, Burundi, Iran, Paraguay, Czech Republic, Argentina, Estonia, Timor-Leste, Libya, Palau, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Botswana, Ecuador, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Central African Republic, Panama and Ethiopia.
In the afternoon session, speakers are Poland, Namibia, Slovakia, Kenya, Serbia, Mozambique, Guinea, Eswatini, Honduras, Montenegro, Venezuela, Uganda, Rwanda, Spain, Andorra and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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- 23 Sept 2026, 10:37:28 PM IST
Live updates for this blog end here.
- 23 Sept 2026, 09:59:25 PM IST
UNGA 2026 LIVE: Israel's Netanyahu rebukes Macron over Gaza remarks at UNGA
UNGA 2026 LIVE: French President Emanuel Macron's remarks criticising Israel's actions in West Bank have drawn sharp reaction from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who termed it as ‘grotesque absurdity’.
The row stems from Macron's speech at the UN's signature annual diplomatic gathering, where he Macron deplored the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Macron said that "Hamas has never struck in the West Bank," a territory seized by Israel in 1967 that is home to the Palestinian Authority.
"The grotesque absurdity of Emmanuel Macron's statement is staggering," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement, AFP reported.
Netanyahu is likely to deliver a defiant address to the world body on Thursday.
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- 23 Sept 2026, 09:24:36 PM IST
UNGA 2026 LIVE: Iran's Pezeshkian accuses Trump of ‘bullying mentality’
UNGA 2026 LIVE: Iranian President Pezeshkian said that the remarks made by the US president yesterday “are a sign of a bullying mentality”.
"The Iranian people will not bow to pressure. ... Those who are terrorists and train terrorists call us terrorists," he said.
- 23 Sept 2026, 08:55:22 PM IST
UNGA 2026 LIVE: What Trump said during his UNGA speech
UNGA 2026 LIVE: Iranian President's defiant speech at the UNGA came a days after the US President Donald Trump threatened to “annihilate” Iran from the same podium.
"I have a big decision to make. Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before? Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again?" Trump said during his UNGA address on Tuesday.
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- 23 Sept 2026, 08:28:30 PM IST
UNGA 2026 LIVE: ‘We have only defended ourselves’ - Pezeshkian
UNGA 2026 LIVE: Iranian President Pezeshkian said that they have “only defended” themselves during his address at the UN General Assembly.
“Our innocent people have been the targets of cowardly attacks and aggressions imposed upon our country. And we defended ourselves with utmost strength. America and Israel attacked us,” he said.
He added about the United States: “Yes, they did hit us, but we did not bend the knee.”
- 23 Sept 2026, 08:02:30 PM IST
UNGA 2026 LIVE: ‘Iran ready for dialogue, diplomacy’ - Pezeshkian
UNGA 2026 LIVE: Iranian President said at UNGA that they are ready for dialogue and diplomacy but not the “language of force”.
“It must be understood by Trump and those who seek to bully Iran that we are ready for dialogue and diplomacyand negotiations without accepting the language of force,” Pezeshkian said.
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- 23 Sept 2026, 07:57:22 PM IST
UNGA 2026 LIVE: ‘Nuclear weapon is in Israel, inspectors are in Iran’ - Iranian President
UNGA 2026 LIVE: Iran President said that the war was “imposed” on it and but they proved that they are not afraid of fighting a defensive war.
He also claimed that Israel possesses weapons of mass destruction but inspectors are asked to come to Iran.
“Atomic and nuclear weapons are in hands of Israel but inspectors are asked to come to Iran,” he said.
“Israel kills but Iran is subject to sanctions. This is a true tragedy. They kill, we are punished,” he said.
- 23 Sept 2026, 07:52:27 PM IST
UNGA 2026 LIVE: Iran President calls for ‘justice for Palestine’
UNGA 2026 LIVE: "Lasting peace in West Asia is impossible without justice for Palestine," says Iran President at UNGA.
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- 23 Sept 2026, 07:49:35 PM IST
UNGA 2026 LIVE: Pezeshkian says Iran needs nuclear energy not nuclear bomb
UNGA 2026 LIVE: Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian said at UNGA that Iran needs nuclear energy and not nuclear bomb.
- 23 Sept 2026, 07:43:15 PM IST
UNGA 2026 LIVE: Iran President flashes Minab school victims photo during UNGA address
UNGA 2026 LIVE: Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian flashed Minab school victims photo during UNGA address.
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- 23 Sept 2026, 07:08:50 PM IST
UNGA 2026 LIVE: Jaishankar raises India's concerns over 100% Russian oil tariff bill with Rubio
UNGA 2026 LIVE: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has raised India’s concerns about 100% Russian oil tariff bill in a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Rubio in New York.
- 23 Sept 2026, 06:57:11 PM IST
UNGA 2026 LIVE: Jaishankar meets Rubio at UNGA, discusses Gulf and Ukraine situations
UNGA 2026 LIVE: Foreign minister S Jaishankar met his US counterpart Marco Rubio at the UN and discussed the Ukraine war and West Asia conflict with him.
“Good to meet @SecRubioof the US #UNHighLevelWeek. Reiterated India’s interests and concerns with regard to SRIA. Also discussed the Gulf and Ukraine situations,” he wrote on X.
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- 23 Sept 2026, 06:46:23 PM IST
UNGA 2026 LIVE: Latvian President addresses UNGA, says ‘the world has changed’
UNGA 2026 LIVE: Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs addressed the UNGA on Wednesday.
“We have heard this again and again that the world order is breaking now. Something new is taking shape, what comes next is not certain but one thing is, the world has changed,” he said.
“What happens far away is not far away,” he added.
“What happens in Ukraine does not stay in Ukraine. What happens in the Middle East, Red Sea, Sudan does not stay there,” he said while highlighting how global conflicts impacts the world.
- 23 Sept 2026, 06:39:23 PM IST
UNGA 2026 LIVE: Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa says ‘no longer part of list of states that sponsor terrorism’
UNGA 2026 LIVE: Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said during his address at the UNGA that the country is ‘no longer part of list of states that sponsor terrorism’.
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- 23 Sept 2026, 06:35:24 PM IST
UNGA 2026 LIVE: Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa begins UNGA address
UNGA 2026 LIVE: Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa began the day 2 of UNGA with his address on Wednesday morning (local time).
“Last year I mentioned that Syria is back, this time, I say that Syria is rising,” he said.
- 23 Sept 2026, 06:25:02 PM IST
Actor Sanjana Sanghi at UNGAActor Sanjana Sanghi at UNGA to share India's youth story
Actor Sanjana Sanghi at UNGA UNGA 2026 LIVE: Actor and UNDP India Youth Champion Sanjana Sanghi took center stage internationally during an official engagement at the United Nations Headquarters. Along with the biggest world leaders, with some of the most influential youth voices in attendance; Sanjana walks into the UNGA in her hattrick season.
Sanjana was selected as one of the trusted female voices from India to represent the global youth at the UN to share the youth story with world leaders and key decision-makers. Joining international delegates, changemakers, and global leaders, the high-level sessions focused on the power of youth mobilization, innovative philanthropy, and advancing sustainable development goals.
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- 23 Sept 2026, 06:04:41 PM IST
UNGA 2026 LIVE: India reaffirms commitment to eliminate Hepatitis B, C as public health threats by 2030
UNGA 2026 LIVE: Union health secretary Punya Salila Srivastava outlined India's comprehensive, people-centred approach to tackling hepatitis at a UNGA 81 side event titled ‘Advancing Global Action to Eliminate Hepatitis’.
Speaking at the event, organised by the UN Group of Friends to Eliminate Hepatitis, Srivastava highlighted India's work across prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment and care.
- 23 Sept 2026, 05:50:42 PM IST
UNGA 2026 LIVE: NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani welcomes mayors from around the world at UNGA
UNGA 2026 LIVE: New York city's mayor Zohran Mamdani welcomed mayors from around the world during the UNGA happening there to exchange ideas.
"The challenges facing our cities may span borders, but so do the ideas that can solve them.
This UNGA, we welcomed mayors from around the world to exchange ideas and share in our successes — from highlighting how Los Deliveristas are fighting for dignity and rights on the job, to seeing the work behind the new life returning to our waterways, and welcoming New Yorkers into affordable housing at Glenmore Manor," he wrote on X.
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- 23 Sept 2026, 05:46:31 PM IST
UNGA 2026 LIVE: UN General Assembly’s high-level week and India's goals
UNGA 2026 LIVE: World leaders gathered in New York on Monday as the high-level week of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly opened. The war in West Asia and the Russia-Ukraine conflict dominated the talks, and the contest to choose the next UN secretary-general was under way. External affairs minister S Jaishankar is leading India’s delegation.
- 23 Sept 2026, 05:41:50 PM IST
UNGA 2026 LIVE: Turkish President Erdogan raises Kashmir issue in UNGA speech
UNGA 2026 LIVE: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan raised the Kashmir issue during his address at the United Nations General Assembly on Monday and said that it “should be addressed through dialogue”.
“In South Asia, it is important that all disputes, including the Kashmir issue, be addressed through dialogue within the framework of the United Nations Charter and of relevant resolutions,” Erdogan said during his address.
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- 23 Sept 2026, 05:39:00 PM IST
UNGA 2026 LIVE: Canadian PM, UN chief call for two-state solution for lasting Israel-Palestine peace
UNGA 2026 LIVE: Several world leaders including Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and others called for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at a high-level UN meeting focused on establishing the conditions for lasting peace.
The event was titled ‘The Road Ahead’ and was hosted by Canada, France, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom.
“Canada’s support for a two-state solution is longstanding and resolute. Today, alongside the United Kingdom, France, and Saudi Arabia, we brought partners together at the UN to discuss how we can create the conditions for a lasting peace — where Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in safety and dignity,” Carney wrote in a post on X.
- 23 Sept 2026, 05:35:38 PM IST
UNGA 2026 LIVE: Jaishankar participates in India-UAE-France trilateral on sidelines of UNGA
UNGA 2026 LIVE: Foreign minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday participated in the India-UAE-France trilateral on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
"Collaboration in the fields of Artificial Intelligence, Space, health sciences, energy and culture was the main topic of discussion," he wrote in a post on X.
"Our shared interests and complimentary capabilities offer immense scope for cooperation. Agreed to meet again soon to take the discussion forward," he added.
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