NEW YORK CITY: Iran is ready to resolve its nuclear impasse with the West, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said during his address at the United Nations General Assembly, while also advocating for dialogue to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Pezeshkian expressed hope for easing U.S. sanctions that have severely impacted Iran’s economy. “We are ready to engage with participants of the 2015 nuclear deal. If the deal’s commitments are fully and sincerely implemented, discussions on other matters can follow,” he stated.
The 2015 agreement, which was abandoned by then-President Donald Trump in 2018, had limited Iran’s uranium enrichment to 3.67% purity and capped its stockpile at 202.8 kg (447 pounds). Iran has since surpassed these limits.
Britain, France, and Germany, remaining signatories to the nuclear deal, feel that Tehran’s leadership is unlikely to change its stance, viewing a broader agreement encompassing both the nuclear program and Iran’s geopolitical role as unrealistic for now. The U.S., European allies, and Israel accuse Iran of using its nuclear program to disguise efforts to develop weapons, while Iran maintains its program is for peaceful purposes.
Relations between Iran and the West have deteriorated further following the October 7 attack by Iranian-backed Hamas on Israel, alongside increased Iranian support for Russia in its war against Ukraine.
Pezeshkian, a moderate politician who assumed office in August, condemned Israel for its actions in Gaza, urging the international community to secure a permanent ceasefire. He stated, “It is imperative that we end the desperate barbarism of Israel in Lebanon, before it engulfs the region and the world.”
As tensions escalated, an Israeli airstrike in Beirut killed a senior commander of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group, with both sides ramping up cross-border attacks.
“We seek peace for all and have no intention of conflict with any country… Iran opposes war and emphasizes the need for an immediate end to military conflict in Ukraine,” Pezeshkian said.
Iran’s relationship with Russia has deepened since the Ukraine conflict began, with reports suggesting Iran has facilitated secret talks between Russia and Yemen’s Houthi rebels regarding the transfer of anti-ship missiles, underscoring Tehran’s growing ties to Moscow.
