Iran’s Pezeshkian Vows No ‘Bending the Knee’ to US Amid Ongoing Conflict

Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared that Iran would never “bend the knee” despite nearly seven months of warfare with the United States and Israel. While standing firm against American threats, he simultaneously expressed openness to a diplomatic resolution for the ongoing conflict.

The remarks came in response to US President Donald Trump’s recent ultimatum, in which he warned that he would either negotiate a deal allowing Iran to rebuild its nation or “annihilate the Islamic Republic” rapidly. Pezeshkian characterized Trump’s threat as an act of bullying, stating, “The resistance of the Iranian people will only increase in the face of sanctions, increased pressure, increased bullying.”

During his address, Pezeshkian highlighted Iranian casualties, displaying photographs of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint US-Israeli strike on his residence in late February. He also showed images of more than 175 civilians, two-thirds of whom were children, reportedly killed in missile strikes on a primary school in Minab and a sports complex in Lamerd. While Iranian authorities attribute these deaths to the airstrikes, the US has denied targeting Lamerd and stated it is still investigating the Minab incident.

Pezeshkian emphasized that any future agreement must include the lifting of the US naval blockade, which has prevented Iranian ships from accessing key Gulf waterways. “It cannot be the case that everyone benefits from the Strait of Hormuz while we are denied access,” he said.

Tensions in the region remain high following a recent attack on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz that killed an Indian sailor. India’s foreign ministry condemned the attack and called for the restoration of unimpeded passage through the vital shipping lane.

The conflict began escalating in February when Iran retaliated for massive US-Israeli air campaigns by launching missiles and drones at Israel and neighboring Gulf states hosting US bases. In response, the US imposed a blockade on Iranian ports and ships in April. Although a preliminary agreement to end the war and reopen the strait was reached in June, it collapsed weeks later after Iranian attacks on shipping resumed and the US reinstated the blockade.

On the diplomatic front, indirect talks between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US envoy Steve Witkoff took place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, brokered by Qatar. These were the first negotiations since June. Witkoff expressed hope that the discussions would be constructive, but Iranian officials stressed that no progress has been made outside of Tehran’s existing conditions: the end of the US blockade and the release of frozen Iranian assets.

Pezeshkian also reiterated Iran’s position on its nuclear program, asserting that the country would not seek nuclear weapons but would retain the right to peaceful nuclear technology. This contrasted with Trump’s claim that the war had already prevented Iran from acquiring a bomb and his demand that Tehran relinquish its nuclear ambitions entirely.