Iran's president defies Trump at U.N.

Masoud Pezeshkian addressed the General Assembly one day after Trump threatened to annihilate Iran, declaring his country would not bend or bow despite attacks.

“Yes, they did hit us, but we did not bend the knee, we did not bow our head.”

Trump threatens to annihilate Iran

Trump said he faces a big decision: make a deal letting Iran rebuild, or annihilate the Islamic Republic quickly and prevent future attacks.

“Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before, maybe one of the greatest in the Middle East or even the world? Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again?”

Iran vows to keep nuclear program

Pezeshkian said Iran will not limit its nuclear program, which it maintains is for civilian purposes, while signaling openness to negotiations.

“We say it clearly: no nuclear weapons and no limitations to new peaceful nuclear technology.”

Iran displays civilian casualties

Pezeshkian held up a photo of children killed when a U.S. munition likely hit an elementary school in Minab, southern Iran, during the opening days of the war.

U.N. experts find war crimes evidence

Experts commissioned by the U.N.'s top human rights body found reasonable grounds to believe America committed war crimes in strikes that killed 168 people, mostly children.

U.S. delegation walks out in protest

A U.S. representative walked out as Pezeshkian mentioned civilian casualties, and many American seats remained empty during his address.

Rubio dismisses Iran's credibility

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran has no standing to lecture on human rights, sponsors terrorist organizations, and slaughters its own people.

“I don't know what standing Iran has to lecture anyone on human rights or the international system when they habitually violate it.”

Indirect talks held through Qatar

U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held indirect talks with Iranian officials, with Qatari diplomats acting as intermediaries to convey questions and answers.

Trump hints at post-election deal

Trump said there would likely be a deal with Iran after the U.S. midterm elections in November, though he provided no details about what it might include.

Strait of Hormuz remains key issue

Experts say talks will likely focus on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 percent of the world's oil flowed before the conflict, now largely closed by Iranian and U.S. blockades.

Iranian hard-liners oppose negotiations

Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi faced pressure from hard-liners not to hold talks, as some view negotiations with the U.S. as capitulation.