Iran President Blasts US, Israel at UN, Accuses Them of War Crimes

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi delivered a fiery speech at the UN General Assembly in New York, vehemently rejecting US threats and accusing the United States and Israel of committing acts of terror and war crimes. During his address, Raisi displayed a photograph of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, and images of a destroyed school.

Raisi's speech, his first on an international stage since the outbreak of the "Operation Iron Sword" war in February, was met with a walkout by the US delegation. He directly addressed remarks by US President Donald Trump labeling Iran a terrorist state, asserting that the Islamic Republic is a victim, not an aggressor. Raisi cited the assassination of Ali Khamenei on the first day of the war and accused Washington of responsibility for bombing a school in Minab that he claimed killed over 175 girls.

The Iranian president contended that unlike actions attributed to Washington and Israel, which he alleged killed many civilians, Iran exclusively targeted military objectives. He stated that his country did not harm civilians and that its military responses were solely for self-defense against imposed aggression. Raisi also criticized the international community for a double standard, pointing to Israel's undeclared nuclear bombs while IAEA inspectors are sent to monitor Iran's nuclear program, which he described as solely for energy purposes.

Addressing Trump directly, Raisi declared that threats and sanctions would only strengthen the Iranian nation's resolve, emphasizing Iran's readiness for dialogue and diplomacy but rejection of the language of force. He reiterated Iran's stance that resolving the Palestinian issue is essential for lasting regional peace, calling the situation in Palestine an "open wound" that signifies the failure of international mechanisms.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio strongly refuted Raisi's claims, stating that a country that kills tens of thousands of its own citizens and consistently funds regional terror organizations is not in a position to lecture on human rights. Rubio reaffirmed the US position on the nuclear issue, asserting that independent enrichment facilities controlled by a global terror financier pose an unacceptable threat.