23/09/23
By AfterPost
In one of the most dramatic wartime addresses ever delivered at the United Nations, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian turned his General Assembly speech into a crime scene exhibit — holding up large printed photos of dead children, scientists and the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and accusing the United States and Israel of war crimes.
Speaking Wednesday Sept 23, a day after US President Donald Trump threatened to "annihilate" the Islamic Republic from the same podium, Pezeshkian said: *"We have only defended ourselves. We are not terrorists. We have been the victims of terrorism."*
The US delegation walked out in protest as he spoke.
*The Photos That Shocked The World:*
Pezeshkian displayed three sets of images, according to AP, Reuters and Bol News:
*1. The Minab School Massacre — 150+ Children:*
Pezeshkian held up photos of the more than 150 school children killed on the first days of the war. President Masoud Pezeshkian held up photos of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the more than 150 school children killed.
The specific incident: On February 28, 2026, a missile strike destroyed the Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School in Minab, Hormozgan Province. Investigations by Amnesty International, Forensic Architecture and media organisations concluded a US Tomahawk missile hit the school, killing 156 people including 120 children and 26 teachers.
Pezeshkian told UNGA: "Do you see these children? These children died under the bombs dropped by weapons used by the United States and Israel. They martyred and assassinated our scientists, our men, women and children. Innocent children who in truth had committed no crimes, no sins."
He also displayed images of people killed in a US strike on a school in Minab at the start of the war, as well as images of a sports hall in Lamerd that he said was destroyed by US bombardment. "The United States, by using weapons with multiple warheads, targeted that sports hall."
A UN fact-finding mission earlier in September said it had reasonable grounds to believe US was behind two military strikes on a school and a sports facility in Iran, and that these constituted war crimes.
*2. Scientists, Commanders, Citizens Killed By Israel:*
Second set of photos showed Iranian nuclear scientists, military commanders and civilians killed by Israeli strikes during the 12-day war that started in late February 2026.
Pezeshkian: "What you see in these images of killings and crimes is the massacre of children and women. It is a black record of slaughter carried out by Israel in our country against our people, including women, children, and youth, under the name of preserving peace and security in the region."
He said the strikes killed commanders, women, children, scientists, and national elites, while also damaging internationally-monitored facilities.
He directly accused Israel: "Israel targets any neighborhood in any city in any province, commits assassinations like a true terrorist. Assassination of state officials, systematic targeting of journalists, and the killing of individuals solely because of their knowledge and expertise are flagrant violations of human rights and international law."
Pezeshkian also revealed Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran by Israel on the day of his inauguration as president in 2024 — linking it to current pattern.
*3. Supreme Leader Khamenei Photo:*
At the beginning of his speech, Pezeshkian held up a picture of the Islamic Republic's late supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, who he said was killed in an airstrike on his compound in Tehran on the first day of the US-Israeli assault on Iran.
This is first time Iran officially claims Khamenei was assassinated in February 2026 war. Iranian state media had kept his fate ambiguous for months. Pezeshkian said: "I come from an Iran where our Supreme Leader was assassinated without any legal basis or reason."
*"We Did Not Bow" — Iran's War Narrative:*
Pezeshkian, considered a moderate within Iran's system, delivered rare wartime speech under heavy security in New York. His narrative:
- The US and Israel imposed the war on Iran while diplomatic talks were ongoing, calling it "a grave betrayal of diplomacy and a weakening of efforts to establish peace."
- US and Israel struck universities, health care centers, schools, hospitals, infrastructure — "all of it against international law".
- Iran responded but did NOT target civilian areas: "Yes, they did hit us, but we did not bend the knee. We did not bow our head. We responded, but we did not hit civilian populations."
- US used multiple warhead weapons on civilian sports hall in Lamerd.
- Iran's military power is purely defensive.
He linked Gaza: US backing Israel's "savage aggression" in Gaza with same logic now used against Iran. He cited devastation of Gaza, violations of Lebanon's sovereignty, destruction of Syria's infrastructure, assaults on Yemen, starvation of children under blockade.
*The US Response: Walkout and Annihilation Threat:*
Day before, Sept 22, Trump at same UNGA podium called Iran "terrorists" and said: "Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild... Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again?"
Pezeshkian answered: "Those who are terrorists, and train and protect terrorists, describe us as such. We have only defended ourselves; we are not terrorists."
As Pezeshkian spoke, the US delegation at the UN walked out in protest.
Hours after Pezeshkian's speech, Trump told reporters his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met for about three hours with Iranian officials on sidelines of UNGA. Trump said: "It was a very good meeting." Rubio said Trump is open to meeting Pezeshkian while in New York.
But war continues: Nearly seven-month war between US-Israel vs Iran began Feb 2026. Trump says Iran waiting to see midterms. Iran says it could reopen Strait of Hormuz — conduit for fifth of global oil — within days if US eases blockade. Pezeshkian warned: "We cannot let some have free access while at same time using that waterway to impose their aggressions upon us."
*What UN Investigators Say About Minab:*
Minab school strike became symbol. Photo credit Majid Asgaripour/WANA/REUTERS shows damaged school Feb 28, 2026. Amnesty and Forensic Architecture said evidence points to US Tomahawk — precision weapon but hit elementary school at morning hours. US has not publicly acknowledged.
Iran says 120 children dead. That number would make it deadliest single US strike on children since 2003 Iraq war.
UN fact-finding mission's finding of war crimes gives Pezeshkian legal ammunition to show photos at UN.
*Why Pezeshkian Displayed Photos — Strategy:*
Three goals:
1. *De-legitimize Trump's terrorist label* — Show victims.
2. *Invoke international law* — War crimes framing, nuclear facilities targeted, journalists assassinated.
3. *Domestic unity message* — Despite harshest sanctions, psychological warfare, Iran stood united behind armed forces.
He ended: Iran has never started a war, never been aggressor, seeks peaceful nuclear energy not bomb. "For our country, peaceful nuclear technology is part of our inherent progress. No nuclear weapons and no limitations to peaceful nuclear technology."
*FAQ:*
Q: Did Pezeshkian really show photos of dead children at UN?
A: Yes. AP and multiple agencies confirm he held up photos of 150+ Minab children killed Feb 28, plus Lamerd sports hall victims.
Q: Did US delegation walk out?
A: Yes, during Pezeshkian speech.
Q: What is Minab school strike?
A: Feb 28, 2026 strike on Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School in Minab, Iran. Iran says US Tomahawk killed 156 including 120 children. UN investigators say reasonable grounds to believe US behind it.
Q: What did Pezeshkian say about scientists?
A: Israel assassinated Iranian scientists, commanders, journalists solely for their expertise — violation of international law.
Full video on UN Web TV — AfterPost will add embed.