Senior cleric praises Pezeshkian UN speech as voice of nation

Ayatollah Seyyed Ahmad Khatami, delivering a Friday prayers sermon, praised President Masoud Pezeshkian's address to the United Nations General Assembly, describing it as the voice of the Iranian nation. He said that prestigious news agencies and media outlets around the world highlighted the fact that Iran will not surrender and will not yield to force. According to the cleric, the Iranian president delivered a crushing response to US President Donald Trump. Khatami added that Trump has failed to understand his own nation and has brought a calamity upon America that has destroyed his popularity, stating that never before in the history of US presidents has there been such a level of unpopularity.

Addressing the UN General Assembly on Wednesday night, President Pezeshkian said the Iranian people have experienced firsthand the consequences of military power and the destructive decisions of those who used it. He added that Iran's resilience has been tested and that the enemies now know well that Iran cannot be forced to surrender through war. The Iranian president stressed that Iran has never initiated a war and has consistently demonstrated its commitment to the negotiating table.

"They imposed war on us, but we proved that we are not afraid of war when it comes to defending ourselves, and we do not shy away from negotiations for the sake of peace," Pezeshkian said, adding, "We will stand to the last breath to defend our beloved Iran."

The remarks come amid ongoing tensions between Iran and the United States. The Friday prayers sermon and the UN address reflect Iran's stated position of resisting external pressure while keeping the door open to diplomacy. No further details were provided in the report.

According to Mehr News, the senior cleric's comments and the president's speech were widely covered by international media, which underscored Iran's refusal to yield to force.