Iran President Condemns Strikes, Accuses Israel of Genocide

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told the U.N. General Assembly that U.S. and Israeli strikes in June inflicted a "grievous blow" to international trust and were a betrayal of diplomacy, citing the assassination of senior military and political figures and attacks on nuclear and civilian infrastructure. He denounced Israeli actions, calling Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a "criminal" and accusing Israel of genocide and apartheid in Gaza, and argued the strikes violated international law and human rights. Pezeshkian reiterated that Iran does not seek nuclear weapons and condemned efforts by France, Germany and the U.K. to trigger U.N. "snapback" sanctions. Tehran is seeking last-minute talks with European powers to avert reimposition of sanctions, with a 30-day window looming. The diplomatic push has been undercut by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei's rejection of direct talks with Washington, calling proposed terms a "diktat," and Iran's rial slid to an all-time low ahead of potential sanctions.