Tehran Monitoring Desk
Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian condemned the United Nations’ decision to reimpose international sanctions on Iran as “unjust and illegal,” saying the measures — including economic and military restrictions — will take effect tonight.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, President Pezeshkian said Tehran views the renewed sanctions with strong disapproval. He recalled that sanctions on Iran had been lifted after the 2016 nuclear agreement, but that Britain, France and Germany later informed the UN Security Council they believed Iran had violated terms of that accord. The Security Council subsequently gave Iran 30 days to return to compliance, the president noted.
Pezzeshkian accused foreign powers of looking for pretexts to “set the region on fire,” while reiterating that Iran will not withdraw from the nuclear non‑proliferation framework. He warned that although Iran does not seek war, it is not afraid of it.
“We are not seeking war, but we will not hesitate to respond with full force to any attack,” he said in the interview with U.S. television. “President Trump says his administration is here to make peace, but the path they are taking will set the whole region ablaze.” He added that Iran will continue to strengthen its defensive capabilities so it cannot be harmed.
On a personal note, Pezeshkian addressed reports about an injury sustained in an Israeli attack, describing it as minor. “It was nothing major — blood pooled around the knee. We removed it and afterwards everything was fine,” he said.
The president also emphasized the need to resist what he described as external interference in regional affairs and called for international respect for Iran’s sovereignty. The UN‑imposed measures are expected to have immediate economic and diplomatic consequences for Tehran.
