Pezeshkian says at the UN that Iran will not kneel before the US

Pezeshkian struck a defiant tone in his speech to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday (24), when he stated that Iran will not "kneel" to the United States. The statement came after American President Donald Trump acknowledged that Washington is holding talks with Tehran.

"When things can be resolved through dialogue, we shouldn't kill each other. But, instigated by Israel, they imposed this war on us. But we don't want to continue. It is the United States that must decide whether it wants to end this," Pezeshkian said, according to a translation by Fox News.

The Iranian president also stated that his country is willing to reach an agreement with Trump to end the conflict. When mentioning a ceasefire, he questioned why an agreement had been broken just two weeks after it was signed.

"Why, just two weeks after signing an agreement, did they decide to implode it?" he said.

Pezeshkian also stated that Iran would be willing to negotiate with the American government within international norms.

"If the current American government, within international legal structures, wants to reach an agreement, perfect. Otherwise, before or after the American legislative elections, what difference does it make to us?", he stated.

The Iranian president also denied that the Houthis, a rebel group that operates in Yemen and is supported by Iran, receive orders from Tehran.

"They are responsible for their own actions," Pezeshkian declared. "We have contact with them. There is no systematic relationship."

The Houthi movement took control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait this month, according to Pezeshkian, in fighting that left hundreds dead. The group also carried out attacks on targets in Saudi Arabia, including the capital, Riyadh, for the first time in years.