Iran spouts 'propaganda' from UN podium, calls on Middle East to unite behind Tehran

In an address to the 79th United Nations General Assembly Tuesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian claimed to be the one playing peacemaker in the Middle East and, in a juxtaposition, accused Israel of supporting terrorism. Pezeshkian called on the U.N. to "examine" modern history and said, "Iran has never initiated a war. It has only defended itself heroically against external aggression, causing the aggressors to regret their actions," Pezeshkian said, adding that Iran does not "occupy" territory or exploit resources for other countries. "It has repeatedly offered various proposals to its neighbors and international fora aimed at establishing lasting peace and stability," he said. "We have emphasized the importance of unity in the region and establishing a strong region." Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian walks, on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York, U.S., September 24, 2024.