Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has vowed to “firmly defend” his country’s positions as he travels to New York for the 81st United Nations General Assembly amid the ongoing Middle East war.
Pezeshkian made the remarks on Tuesday before departing Iran for the UN meeting, where he is scheduled to address world leaders on Wednesday.
“We will make the best possible use of this opportunity to convey Iran’s plight to the international community,” he said, according to footage broadcast by Iranian state television.
The president added that Iran would tell its adversaries that the Iranian people had “stood their ground” despite what he described as unfairness and injustice.
Pezeshkian is expected to be the highest-ranking Iranian official to visit the United States since the Middle East conflict began in late February, following US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
US imposes movement restrictions
The US State Department has approved UN visits for part of the Iranian delegation despite the ongoing conflict. However, members of the delegation will face movement restrictions while in the United States.
Pezeshkian’s communications team has not been authorised to travel after being denied visas.
Iranian presidential spokesman Habibollah Abbassi described the decision to bar the communications team as “hostile”, according to Iranian local media.
Strait of Hormuz remains key issue
The Strait of Hormuz remains a major point of contention between Tehran and Washington.
The strategically important maritime corridor, through which around one-fifth of the world’s hydrocarbons passed before the war, has experienced severe disruption since the conflict began.
Iran has fired on commercial vessels and demanded approval for ships seeking to pass through the strait, while the United States has maintained a counterblockade of Iranian ports and increased economic pressure on Tehran.
Pezeshkian’s UNGA address is expected to provide Iran with an international platform to present its position on the conflict and its wider dispute with the United States.
