WASHINGTON, D.C. — Tensions between the U.S. and Iran are taking center stage at the United Nations General Assembly.
President Trump issued a stark warning for Iran on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Iran’s president responded in front of world leaders.
“I call on all nations to join us in enforcing the complete economic isolation of Iran until they stop their attacks on commercial shipping, relinquish their nuclear ambitions and cease their support of terror,” said President Trump as he kicked off the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday.
Trump laid out his options for ending the war with Iran — diplomacy or escalation.
“But I have a big decision to make. Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before,” said Trump. “Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly?”
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian pushed back Wednesday.
“The United States president described us as terrorists. We have been the victims of terrorism,” said Pezeshkian. “Those who are terrorists and train and protect terrorists describe us as such. We have only defended ourselves. We are not terrorists.”
The only U.S. delegate present for Pezeshkian’s speech walked out as he criticized U.S. and Israeli military action. Pezeshkian also defended Iran’s position on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil shipments.
“They close access for us to our own waterway. Yet they keep supplying missiles and deadly tech military technologies to bring insecurity to all of the lands surrounding that waterway. We will not succumb to that,” said Pezeshkian.
“At the end of the day, the one thing you will find in the region is that virtually every country in the region is facing the threat of some Iranian proxy that has for years, not for the last few months, for years, threatened the safety and security of these countries, and on that there’s very strong consensus that Iran is a maligned force in the region,” said Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
President Trump said he expects a deal with Iran after November’s midterm elections because Tehran is watching to see how Republicans perform.
