Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in New York on Monday evening (local time) to lead Tehran’s diplomatic delegation at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). His visit comes as diplomatic discussions surrounding the ongoing conflict involving Iran and the United States continue
Araghchi was welcomed at John F. Kennedy International Airport by Iran’s permanent representative and chargé d’affaires to the United Nations, Gholamhossein Darzi. En route to New York, he made a brief stopover in Doha, where he held consultations with Qatari officials on the latest regional developments. Qatar has been involved in mediation efforts between Iran and the United States
Upon arrival, Araghchi spoke by phone with UN Secretary-General António Guterres. The two exchanged views on the agenda of the General Assembly and broader issues of international peace and security.
Iran’s Objectives at the UN
Speaking to reporters in New York, Araghchi stated that the Iranian delegation’s primary goal is to use the major international platform of the United Nations to defend the rights, legitimacy, and interests of the Iranian people. He described the visit as taking place “in a situation that, in truth, continues as a state of war” following what Iran calls a war of aggression by the United States and Israel.
He emphasized that Iran would raise issues related to the conflict, the suffering of the Iranian people, and the need to restore trust in the United Nations. The 81st UNGA is being held under the theme “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations That Delivers for All.”
President Pezeshkian’s Upcoming Address
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is scheduled to travel to New York on Tuesday and address the UN General Assembly on September 23. During his visit, Pezeshkian is expected to outline Iran’s positions on international developments, hold bilateral meetings with world leaders, engage with Iranian expatriates, and speak with American experts and think tanks
Before departing Tehran, Pezeshkian said Iran would “firmly defend” its positions and use the Assembly to convey the nation’s grievances, the impact of the conflict, and its strength. He criticized the erosion of trust in international frameworks and the failure of previous agreements