Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian used his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday to respond to a remark by US President Donald Trump that labeled Iran a "terrorist," according to Anandabazar Patrika. The same outlet reports that Pezeshkian also made Iran's position on the Strait of Hormuz clear during the speech.
The address was delivered at the General Assembly, where Trump had spoken. Reports from multiple outlets, including The Daily Star Bangla and Jugantor, indicate that Pezeshkian changed his prepared remarks in reaction to Trump's comments. Banglanews24 reports that he said Iran will not step back from what he described as its peaceful nuclear program.
The speech placed Iran's nuclear activities and the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway of major strategic importance, at the center of his remarks. Pezeshkian's decision to alter his speech at the last moment, as reported by Jugantor, suggests the US president's language shaped how the Iranian leader chose to present his case to the assembled delegations.
The exchanges at the General Assembly reflect the continuing tension between Washington and Tehran, with the nuclear file and the Hormuz waterway remaining two of the most sensitive points between them. Pezeshkian's remarks, as summarized by Anandabazar Patrika, were framed as a direct answer to Trump rather than a routine diplomatic statement.
What to watch next is whether either side follows the UN exchange with formal diplomatic communication or further public statements, and whether the nuclear issue and Hormuz are addressed through any renewed channel.
