Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has declared that his country will never “bend the knee” to US pressure, even as he signaled Tehran’s readiness to pursue a diplomatic resolution to the nearly seven-month conflict with the United States and Israel.
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Pezeshkian delivered a reply to recent threats from US President Donald Trump, who stated on Tuesday that he faced a “big decision”: either negotiate a deal to allow Iranians to rebuild their country, or “annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly.”
Dismissing the ultimatum as a “sign of a bullying mentality,” the Iranian President framed the pressure as a catalyst for national unity rather than submission.
“Trump must know that the resistance of the Iranian people will only increase in the face of sanctions, increased pressure, increased bullying,” Pezeshkian asserted. “We will never bow our head or bend the knee.”
Despite the fiery rhetoric, Pezeshkian carefully calibrated his message to leave room for de-escalation, emphasizing that Tehran remains open to engagement, provided it is conducted on equal footing. “We are ready for dialogue, diplomacy and negotiations without accepting the language of force,” he stated.
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However, the Iranian leader outlined a non-negotiable prerequisite for any future agreement: the immediate cessation of the US blockade that has prevented Iranian vessels from navigating the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
“It cannot be the case that everyone benefits from the Strait of Hormuz while we are denied access,” Pezeshkian argued, highlighting the chokepoint’s critical role in global energy markets and Iran’s economic survival.
The President’s remarks come against a backdrop of escalating regional volatility. Just hours after his address, reports emerged of an attack on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz that resulted in the death of an Indian sailor, underscoring the precarious security environment in the waterway Iran seeks to keep open.
Promise Idoko is Junior Reporter working with moderncrux He covers global politics and international affairs. Based in Nigeria,
