Iran President Accuses US of Terrorism at UN

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed the 81st UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, holding up photos of students killed in the Minab school strike and of Ali Khamenei. He said the US president had labelled Iranians terrorists, that Iran had not attacked anyone for 200 years, and that Iran has been the victim of terrorism, including the killing of its leader and a school bombing. A US delegate walked out minutes into the speech. The war with the US and Israel began in February. Pezeshkian said Iran responded but did not hit civilian structures, accused Israel of terrorism in Gaza, and stated sanctions hit the ill and poor. He said Iran seeks energy for progress, not aggression, and will defend itself without permission. Trump the day before said he could annihilate Iran if no deal is reached, expects a deal after the midterms, and noted US Navy escorts moving more oil through Hormuz than at any point since the war began. Trump said US and Iranian officials held a lengthy New York meeting; Tehran downplayed it. Wire accounts of Pezeshkian's remarks cited more than 150 schoolchildren as victims. A UN fact-finding mission found reasonable grounds the US committed war crimes in strikes including a primary school; Washington denies the allegation. Pezeshkian said Iran is open to dialogue but not under threats and warned that blocking Hormuz or expanding war would spread crisis in the region.