Iranian President Addresses UN, Responds to Trump's Threats

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, launching sharp criticism against the United States and Israel. Rouhani's speech, his first on an international stage since the outbreak of the war in February, was met with a walkout by the U.S. delegation.

Rouhani used the platform to respond to recent threats from U.S. President Donald Trump, who had vowed to destroy the Iranian regime. The Iranian president asserted that his country would not be subjugated by military force, stating, "Trump should know that threats only unite the Iranian nation." He countered Trump's description of Iran as a terrorist state by claiming the Islamic Republic itself is a victim of terrorism. Rouhani cited the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on the first day of the "Operation Lion's Roar" and accused the U.S. of bombing a school that day, resulting in the deaths of dozens of children, presenting images of the destroyed site.

"The President of the United States described us as terrorists, but we were the victims," Rouhani declared. He emphasized that, unlike Washington and Israel, Tehran only targets military objectives and does not harm civilians. According to Rouhani, Iran's actions are in self-defense against nations that disregard international law. He alluded to Iran's nuclear program, asserting it is solely for peaceful energy purposes and justifying military buildup as a necessary deterrent against attacks on Iranian cities.

Rouhani protested what he termed the international community's "double standard," noting, "Iran kills and Iran absorbs sanctions, this is a double standard." He concluded his address by stating that his country believes in diplomacy and that peace will not come from the battlefield.