Tehran, Sept 2026 : Iran has asserted its right to participate in the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei saying Tehran would not be deterred by what he described as attempts to prevent its delegation from attending the international gathering.
Speaking to state-run IRIB TV, Baghaei said Iran had no particular desire to be in New York but argued that its presence at the United Nations remained strategically important.
“Being present in New York holds absolutely no appeal for Iran's representatives. However, it is a stronghold that must not be abandoned,” he said.
Baghaei stressed that Iran’s participation was a legal entitlement rather than a concession. He also pointed out that Iran was among the 50 founding members of the United Nations.
According to the Iranian spokesman, it was the responsibility of Tehran’s representatives to attend the General Assembly and present the country’s views and positions to the international community.
He accused “the other side” of employing various measures to prevent or discourage the Iranian delegation from travelling to the United States. Baghaei described such efforts as “obstructionism and negative propaganda” and said they would not persuade Iran to relinquish what Tehran considers its right to participate in the UNGA.
The United States, meanwhile, has said it will permit Iran’s “core delegation” to attend the General Assembly in accordance with its responsibilities as the host country. US officials said the delegation would include Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
However, the US State Department said the Iranian delegation would be smaller than last year and would face travel restrictions while in the United States. The delegation would also be subject to restrictions on purchasing luxury and certain other goods during its stay.
The dispute over Iran’s participation comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran, with the two sides facing an ongoing conflict alongside intermittent diplomatic efforts aimed at addressing key differences.
US President Donald Trump is expected to focus heavily on Iran’s nuclear programme during his UN-related diplomacy next week. Trump is scheduled to address the General Assembly on Tuesday before holding discussions with leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council in New York.
US officials have indicated that Iran is expected to feature prominently in those discussions. However, they have not confirmed whether Trump or other senior US officials will hold direct talks with Iranian representatives on the sidelines of the UNGA.
US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said Trump’s address would underline Washington’s position that Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon. Waltz said the position was also reflected in repeated resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council.
The US ambassador said Trump’s speech would also touch upon diplomatic agreements, unresolved international conflicts and developments concerning the President’s 20-point Gaza peace plan.
Asked whether direct US-Iran talks could take place during the UN General Assembly, Waltz declined to comment, saying the schedules of the US President and Secretary of State had not yet been finalised.
The upcoming UNGA session is therefore expected to provide an important diplomatic platform for both sides to present their positions amid continuing tensions.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
