Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has vowed to firmly defend his country’s position as he travels to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly.
Pezeshkian made the statement on Tuesday before departing Iran for the United States. He said Iran would use the opportunity to present its situation to the international community and defend the country’s position despite what he described as unfairness and injustice.
“We will firmly defend our positions in international forums,” Pezeshkian said, according to Iranian state television.
The Iranian president is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on Wednesday. He will be the highest-ranking Iranian official to visit the United States since the Middle East war began in late February with US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
The United States has approved UN visits for some members of the Iranian delegation, although they will face movement restrictions, according to the US State Department.
However, members of Pezeshkian’s communications team were denied visas and will not travel with him. Iranian presidential spokesman Habibollah Abbassi described the decision as “hostile,” according to local media reports.
The reopening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz remains a major point of disagreement between Tehran and Washington. The vital maritime route, through which about one-fifth of the world’s hydrocarbons passed before the war, has experienced severe disruption.
The United States has maintained a counterblockade of Iranian ports while increasing economic pressure on Tehran.
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