Pezeshkian: Iran Ready for Talks, But Will Not Accept Force

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has rejected what he described as US attempts to pressure and intimidate Iran, while reaffirming Tehran’s willingness to pursue dialogue and diplomacy.

Speaking at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, Pezeshkian said Iran was prepared for negotiations but would not accept demands made through force or threats.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said reaching an agreement with Iran would require prolonged efforts, while maintaining that military options remained available.

Iranian officials also said Tehran had conveyed conditions for lifting the US naval blockade, unfreezing Iranian assets and ending regional conflicts, particularly in Yemen, through Qatari and Pakistani mediators.

The developments come as tensions remain high across the region. Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz increased slightly on Wednesday, with 10 commodity vessels recorded, compared with seven the previous day, but remained below the 10-day average of about 17 vessels.

Elsewhere, Israeli artillery shelling was reported in parts of southern Lebanon, while a major explosion shook the Lebanese town of Khiam.

Pakistan and Iran also held discussions on regional peace on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, with both sides stressing the importance of dialogue and continued diplomatic engagement.

Iranian and Ukrainian foreign ministers separately met at the UN and agreed to keep communication channels open amid tensions between their countries.

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