NEW YORK, 24 September, 2026 (Ghufran): Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told the United Nations General Assembly that Iran would not surrender, accusing the United States and Israel of waging war against Iran and targeting civilians. At the beginning of his address, Pezeshkian displayed images of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and children killed in a US strike on a school in Minab, while US representatives walked out of the General Assembly during his speech. The Iranian president alleged that the United States had targeted women and children and attacked schools, hospitals and civilian infrastructure, while also accusing Washington of using cluster bombs against children in Iran. Pezeshkian criticised the US for describing Iran as a terrorist state, saying Iran itself had been a victim of terrorism. He accused the United States and Israel of carrying out attacks in violation of international law and said Iran had the right to defend itself without seeking permission from other countries. Addressing Iran’s nuclear programme, Pezeshkian said Tehran sought nuclear energy rather than nuclear weapons and would not accept restrictions on what he described as Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear technology. On the Strait of Hormuz, he said Iran would not allow the waterway to be used to facilitate attacks against the country. Pezeshkian also expressed a desire for strong relations with neighbouring countries and said Iran did not consider them security rivals. He further accused Israel of genocide in Gaza and criticised Israeli military operations in the region.