Iranian President Voices Concerns Over Regional Conflicts in Meeting with UN Chief
New York, The Gulf Observer: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed deep concerns over the escalation of conflicts in the Middle East during a meeting with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly session in New York.
President Pezeshkian appreciated the UN chief’s condolences over the recent tragic coal mine explosion in eastern Iran, which claimed at least 38 lives. The president attributed the incident to the crippling sanctions imposed on Iran, which have hindered the country’s ability to import essential mining equipment.
In addressing the expanding regional conflicts, Pezeshkian strongly condemned Israel’s actions, accusing the regime of orchestrating a terror attack in Tehran that resulted in the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on the day of Iran’s presidential inauguration. He further expressed alarm over Israel’s military actions, noting that the regime had killed nearly 41,000 people in Gaza and now launched attacks on Lebanon, causing numerous casualties.
The president underscored Iran’s commitment to peace and reiterated that the Islamic Republic has never sought nuclear weapons, emphasizing its longstanding goal of regional security through cooperation with neighboring countries. He stressed that Iran has not initiated any conflicts over the past two centuries.
For his part, Secretary-General Guterres expressed hope for Iran’s continued development and the establishment of peace and security in the Middle East. Guterres reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to halting the Gaza conflict and called for preventive measures to avoid Lebanon becoming another war zone. He also emphasized the importance of recognizing the rights of the Palestinian people.
The UN chief commended the improvement of Iran’s relations with the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council and acknowledged the country’s generous hospitality towards Afghan refugees despite the lack of international aid.
The meeting underscored the shared concerns over the growing instability in the region and the importance of multilateral efforts to address these crises.
President Pezeshkian traveled to New York to participate in the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, which is taking place from September 10 to 24.
