Iran president tells UN ‘we will never bow our head’ as US walks out

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian projected defiance in his speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, saying the Islamic Republic would not surrender or give up its nuclear program in the face of President Trump’s military and economic pressure.

“He must know that the resistance of the Iranian people will only increase in the face of sanctions, increased pressure, increased bullying,” Pezeshkian told the room. The U.S. representative had earlier walked out of the Iranian president’s speech.

Pezeshkian’s speech came after Trump told the global body that Tehran faces a choice of either striking a deal with the U.S. to end the more than six-month war or facing “annihilation.”

“We will never bow our head or bend at the knee,” Pezeshkian continued.

“Iran must be understood by Mr. Trump and those who seek to bully us that we are ready for dialogue and diplomacy and negotiations without accepting the language of force.”

Referencing Trump’s threats to wipe out Iran, he said, “everything uttered about our country goes against the very essence and charter and the spirit of the United Nations.”

The Iranian president further reiterated Iran’s position that it does not seek a nuclear weapon, but that it rejects constraints on its pursuit of nuclear technology.

“We say it clearly: No nuclear weapons and no limitations to peaceful nuclear technology,” he said.

The U.N.’s nuclear watchdog earlier this month reported Iran to the U.N. Security Council for noncompliance with its nuclear safeguard agreements, the first instance of such a censure in 20 years.

In September 2025, the Security Council triggered a snapback of sanctions on Iran in the face of restrictions on monitoring its nuclear program and deadlock in negotiations with the U.S. at the time.

Trump has said his war against Iran is centered on preventing the Islamic Republic from developing a nuclear weapon, but a sweeping military operation and economic pressure campaign have so far failed to force Iran’s capitulation. Tehran has succeeded in holding the global energy market hostage and inflicting economic pain, especially in the U.S., with rising gas and diesel prices.

Trump predicted that Iran will come to an agreement with the U.S. after the midterm elections, suggesting they are waiting to see if he winds up in a weakened position in the event Republicans lose their majorities in the House and Senate.

“I gave absolutely no credence and will not give credence to the election when it comes to Iran,” Trump said in his speech to the U.N.

Trump’s envoys for negotiations, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, held indirect talks with Iranian officials on Tuesday on the sidelines of the global summit.

Witkoff said he hopes the “lengthy” talks “will prove constructive and promising” in a post on the social platform X.