Wed Sep 25 07:43:53 UTC 2024: ## Iran Condemns Israeli Attacks on Lebanon, Calls for End to Gaza War
**New York, September 24, 2024:** Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, condemning the Israeli regime’s actions in both Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. He declared that Israel had been defeated in its “genocidal war” on Gaza and could not restore its image through resorting to “barbarism” in Lebanon.
Pezeshkian specifically denounced the Israeli airstrikes on southern and eastern Lebanon on Monday, which killed at least 569 people, including 50 children and 94 women, and wounded 5,000 more. He also highlighted earlier Israeli attacks in Lebanon, including the bombing of a residential building in Beirut, and the detonation of booby-trapped devices, killing dozens and injuring thousands.
He called for an immediate cessation of the “insane Israeli barbarism” in Lebanon, warning that the escalation could ignite the entire region and the world. He also held those governments supporting Israel accountable for the “atrocities,” emphasizing that the “blind and terrorist crimes” against Lebanon would not go unanswered.
Pezeshkian further condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, highlighting the deaths of over 41,000 Palestinians, primarily women and children, during the ongoing conflict. He called out Israel’s portrayal of its actions as “legitimate defense,” while identifying schools, hospitals, and kindergartens as “legitimate military targets.”
He also addressed the issue of Palestinian self-determination, criticizing Israel’s efforts to brand Palestinians as “terrorists” after seven decades of occupation. He reiterated the Iranian proposal for a referendum across all of Palestine, allowing all former and current inhabitants to determine their own future, claiming this would be the only path towards achieving lasting peace in the region.
Moving beyond the conflict in the Middle East, Pezeshkian addressed the issue of unilateral sanctions imposed on Iran by the US and its allies. He highlighted the JCPOA, the nuclear agreement reached in 2015, which saw the lifting of sanctions in exchange for Iran’s commitment to nuclear inspections. However, he condemned the US’s withdrawal from the agreement in 2018 and the subsequent reimposition of sanctions, labeling them as an attempt to destroy Iran’s economy and secure the country while creating insecurity for everyone.
Pezeshkian also criticized the US’s military build-up near Iran’s borders and its hostile approach towards the nation. He reminded the world that it was the US, not Iran, that had assassinated General Qassem Soleimani in 2020.
He stressed that Iran, unlike Israel, was committed to peace and had never initiated a war. He emphasized the country’s support for regional unity, and highlighted its proposals for sustainable peace and stability in the region.
Pezeshkian concluded by advocating for a shift in international dialogue towards opportunity-oriented solutions rather than threats. He asserted that Iran was ready for cooperation and sought peace for all, believing that a new attitude towards international issues could create opportunities for peace and prosperity.
First Piper 