Iran’s president tells UN his people are victims of US terrorism

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian delivered a rare wartime address at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, calling his people "victims of terrorism" by the United States, a day after President Donald Trump threatened to "annihilate" Iran. Pezeshkian displayed photos of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and over 150 school children killed in the war's early days, asserting Iran only defended itself. Trump separately confirmed his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held about three hours of indirect talks with Iranian officials, mediated by Qatar, though Tehran downplayed the exchange as "not anything new." The speech follows a nearly seven-month war and a June ceasefire that collapsed, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying Trump is open to meeting Pezeshkian. Iran demands an end to the U.S. blockade of its ports and release of frozen assets, while attacks continue in the Strait of Hormuz.