Iranian president accuses US of terrorism and law-breaking in defiant UN speech

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused the United States of terrorism and flouting international law in a defiant UN speech on Wednesday, vowing Iran will never surrender, following President Donald Trump's threat to "annihilate" the Islamic Republic. Pezeshkian held up images of children killed in a strike on a Minab primary school, which a UN report said the US was likely responsible for, and criticized double standards, noting Israel has nuclear weapons while Iran faces sanctions. An American delegate walked out during the address. The speech came amid reported diplomatic contacts through Qatari mediators, though Iran's delegation was ordered to avoid face-to-face meetings with Americans. Washington announced secondary sanctions on countries allowing Iranian flights, prompting Tehran to threaten disrupting neighbors' airports in response.