Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian affirmed in his address to the United Nations General Assembly that U.S. President Donald Trump describes his country as “terrorism,” while Iran itself has fallen victim to American terrorism.

Pezeshkian explained that at the time of his election and inauguration as president, the enemies assassinated the martyred commander Ismail Haniyeh, adding: “They came from afar to kill us.”

The Iranian president also noted that the United States and “Israel” attacked his country while equipped with the latest technologies and weapons systems, yet the Iranian people stood firm in the face of the aggression.

He continued that a people unable to defend itself is crushed, and that Iran’s defensive systems were specifically developed to defend the country.

During his speech, the Iranian president pointed to the continuation of terrorism and occupation in Palestine, particularly in the Gaza Strip, noting that more than 70,000 martyrs had fallen at the hands of the real terrorists.

Pezeshkian also criticized the double standards represented by imposing sanctions on Iran while “Israel” continues killing.

He affirmed that Tehran seeks nuclear technology for development, not to destroy societies, and that it has complied with the memorandum of understanding and receives international inspectors, while, in contrast, the Israeli regime possesses nuclear bombs, has not joined the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and prevents inspectors from accessing its weapons.

Pezeshkian stressed that regional problems must be resolved from within the region and rejected placing them in the hands of foreign states, affirming that those who attack Iran cannot be allowed to freely move through the Strait of Hormuz and launch operations from there.

He also warned that expanding the war would not achieve the objective and that no one can spread chaos across the countries of the region.

The Iranian president concluded his speech by affirming that Iran has never been an aggressor state and has never started a war, and that it has demonstrated its commitment to negotiations, adding that it does not fear a war in which it defends itself and believes in diplomacy.

He called on Trump to understand the Iranian people, pointing to Iran’s openness to negotiations, but not under military pressure and force.

During his speech, the Iranian president raised a picture of the martyred commander Sayyed Ali Khamenei before those attending the General Assembly, and also displayed pictures of the Iranian martyrs killed in the American aggression, while the U.S. representative left the hall after the pictures were displayed.