Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian vows never to 'bend the knee' to Trump
Summary
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian declared at the UN General Assembly that Iran will never "bend the knee" amid ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel, but he expressed willingness for diplomatic resolution. His statement comes in response to President Donald Trump's threats to "annihilate" Iran if a deal is not reached soon. Pezeshkian emphasized that any agreement must include the lifting of the US blockade of Iranian ports, particularly as the Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed due to ongoing Iranian missile and drone attacks on commercial vessels and the US blockade. Recent indirect talks between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US envoy Steve Witkoff were held on the sidelines of the assembly, marking the first contact since a preliminary agreement to end hostilities collapsed in June.