Iran Vows No Surrender as US Blockade Persists
Iran's president rejects US threats of annihilation at the UN, demanding an end to the Strait of Hormuz blockade for any deal.
Key points
- Iran’s president stated at the UN that Iran will never bend the knee to US pressure.
- Tehran demands the end of the US blockade on the Strait of Hormuz as a condition for peace.
- An attack on a cargo ship in the strait killed an Indian sailor, according to Indian authorities.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday. He stated that Iran will never submit to US pressure. This came after nearly seven months of conflict with the US and Israel.
According to BBC, Pezeshkian responded to President Donald Trump’s threat to "annihilate" Iran if no deal is reached. He insisted that Iranian resistance would grow under sanctions. He also said Tehran remains open to diplomatic solutions.
Blockade dispute drives diplomatic deadlock
Pezeshkian emphasized that any agreement must end the US blockade. This blockade prevents Iranian ships from using the Strait of Hormuz. He argued it is unfair that others benefit from the waterway while Iran is denied access.
The US delegation left the chamber as he spoke. There was no immediate official response from Washington. Trump had earlier called the situation a "big decision" between negotiation or military action.
Civilian casualties fuel Iranian rhetoric
During his speech, Pezeshkian displayed photos of late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He was killed in a late February strike on his residence. The president also showed images of civilians killed in missile attacks.
Iranian authorities reported more than 175 civilians died in strikes on Minab and Lamerd. Two-thirds of these victims were children. The US denies striking Lamerd and is still investigating the Minab incident.
Shipping risks remain high in Gulf
A cargo ship attack in the Strait of Hormuz killed an Indian sailor on Wednesday. Omani and Indian authorities confirmed the incident to the Agence France-Presse news agency. India’s foreign ministry condemned the attack.
The strait handles a fifth of global oil and gas shipments. Iran closed it in February by targeting commercial vessels. The US imposed a blockade in April. A preliminary peace deal in June collapsed within weeks.
