Iran says attending UN General Assembly is a legal right, not a privilege

Iranian government spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Saturday that attending the United Nations General Assembly is a legal right for Iran, not a privilege granted by others. Speaking to national Iranian TV in a program aired on Saturday night, Baghaei asserted that being in New York held absolutely no charm for Iranian representatives, but it was a trench that must not be abandoned. He emphasized that Iran is one of the 50 founding member states of the UN, and therefore its participation in the General Assembly is a matter of legal entitlement.

Baghaei highlighted that seven months had passed since recent conflicts and crimes against Iran, and stated that the country had a duty to attend the most important international event to make the justice and rights of the Iranian people heard by the world. He pointed out that the opposing side used every tool to prevent the Iranian delegation’s participation, ranging from derogatory remarks and media propaganda to abusing its commitments as the host government by creating delays or refusing to issue visas for several delegation members.

He affirmed that such sabotage and negative propaganda would never cause Iran to back down from its legitimate right to attend the summit and explicitly explain the principled positions of the Islamic Republic and the great Iranian nation. Baghaei's remarks come amid ongoing tensions between Iran and the United States, which hosts the UN headquarters in New York. The Iranian delegation, led by President Masoud Pezeshkian, is expected to attend the upcoming UN General Assembly session.

According to Mehr News, Baghaei's statements underscore Iran's determination to participate in international forums despite what it describes as obstructive measures by the host country. The report added that Iran views its UN membership as a fundamental right and will continue to assert it.