ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and senior military commanders on Thursday endorsed President Masoud Pezeshkian’s address to the United Nations General Assembly, warning that Tehran would continue retaliating against threats to its territory.
Major General Ali Abdollahi, commander of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, described Pezeshkian’s speech as the “resonant voice” of the Iranian people and lauded the president for confronting US President Donald Trump before the international community.
The remarks come a day after the Iranian President’s address to world leaders at the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York city - his first to the UN since Washington and Israel launched their campaign against Iran in late February.
Pezeshkian struck an uncompromising tone, saying that Tehran would not capitulate under US pressure and maintained that “[Trump] must know that the resistance of the Iranian people will only increase in the face of sanctions, increased pressure, increased bullying. We will never bow our head or bend at the knee,” he said.
Echoing Pezeshkian’s remarks that Iran would not “allow some [countries]to have free access [to the Strait of Hormuz] and gain their interest from a waterway” that is used to impose “aggressions and insecurity” upon Iran, Abdollahi reiterated on Wednesday that Iran’s armed forces would continue what he described as "vengeance" for those killed during the conflict.
“As long as Iran’s land, waters, and skies are under threat, no aggressor nation—nor any supporter of the aggressors—shall enjoy security,” he said, according to Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency.
IRGC spokesperson General Hossein Mohebbi likewise praised Pezeshkian’s address, saying it had projected Iran’s “strength, pride, and dignity” from the UN platform.
The remarks came as tensions persisted around the strategic waterway. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said Wednesday that a cargo vessel was struck by an unknown projectile in the waterway, leaving it on fire and adrift. All crew members were evacuated, with two casualties reported, while authorities were investigating the incident.
The latest confrontation unfolded as Washington and Tehran resumed diplomatic contacts on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly after nearly seven months of hostilities.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff held meetings on Tuesday. Witkoff said the two sides had “successfully completed a round of discussions” and described the talks as potentially “constructive and promising,” while saying mediators would continue their efforts.
