Iran’s President Pezeshkian Engages UN Delegates Amid Ongoing War with the United States

On September 23 2026, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian appeared at a press briefing in a Midtown Manhattan hotel, a day after delivering a defiant address to the United Nations General Assembly. The session, held at the Millennium Hilton near the UN headquarters, was attended by journalists, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and a U.S. Secret Service detail. Pezeshkian reiterated Iran’s war positions, denied any plot to assassinate President Donald Trump, described the impact of U.S. sanctions, and said the country remained open to negotiations not tied to the November 3 2026 U.S. midterm elections. He also referenced a recent seven-hour meeting with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, describing the leader as “quite healthy.”

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The conflict began in February 2024 with coordinated U.S.–Israeli strikes that killed Iran’s former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and sparked a war over the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The 81st UNGA convened in New York from September 22-28 2026, providing the first opportunity for a head of government from a nation at war with the United States to address the assembly in person.

CNN

• A White House official described the indirect talks between the United States and Iran as “preliminary.”

CNN

• U.S. intelligence assessments, cited by CNN, indicated that despite injuries, Supreme Leader Khamenei continues to influence Iran’s war strategy.

CNN

White House officials emphasized Iran’s record of internal repression and external aggression, contrasting Tehran’s diplomatic overtures with its alleged support for proxy forces and pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability.

CNN

• The war is in its seventh month, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining a focal point of tension.

Reuters

• Iran’s foreign minister said a proposal to reopen the strait could be implemented within seven days if U.S. conditions were met.

Reuters

• The November 3 2026 midterm elections are cited by both sides as a potential timeline for a settlement.

Reuters

• “The Iranian regime has murdered thousands of its own people, killed Americans overseas, executed acts of terrorism in the Strait of Hormuz, and launched indiscriminate attacks against its neighbors in the region.” — Anna Kelly, White House spokesperson

CNN

• “We have problems. Unprecedentedly difficult problems,” — Masoud Pezeshkian, Iranian president

CNN

• “We don’t want it to get to the midterm elections,” — Masoud Pezeshkian, Iranian president

The Hill

Intelligence reports suggest the leader’s injuries continue to influence strategic decisions. No independent verification of the leader’s condition has been provided.

CNN

Iran has conveyed its latest proposal to Washington through Qatari mediators and indicated willingness to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within a week if U.S. military pressure is eased. Mediators are expected to continue shuttling between the parties, and U.S. officials have signaled that diplomatic engagement will proceed alongside ongoing assessment of military options ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.

Reuters