Iranian President Criticizes UN Response to Israeli Actions in Gaza and Lebanon

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has criticized the United Nations and its Security Council for what he described as an inadequate response to Israeli actions in Gaza and Lebanon, as well as the recent conflict involving Iran.

Speaking at the “SCO Plus” meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Pezeshkian said the international community is facing military aggression, genocide, war crimes, terrorism and sanctions. He called the UN’s handling of crises in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran “very disappointing.”

Pezeshkian accused the United States and Israel of violating the UN Charter and international law during the recent conflict with Iran. He said attacks affected civilians, schools, medical facilities, critical infrastructure and nuclear sites under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards.

He maintained that Iran did not initiate the war but defended itself, while emphasizing that Tehran still sees diplomacy and negotiations as the preferred way to resolve disputes. He warned that diplomacy without good faith, respect for commitments and an end to the use of force cannot produce lasting peace.

The Iranian president also accused Washington of repeatedly violating commitments under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, which followed negotiations mediated by Pakistan and Qatar. He said pressure and threats could undermine efforts to end hostilities and resume talks.

Pezeshkian further called for a stronger and more representative UN system, saying a multipolar world should not simply replace one dominant power with another. He argued that the new international order should be based on multilateralism, sovereign equality and respect for international law.

He said SCO Plus countries could play a major role in shaping this system because of their combined political, economic, demographic and geographic influence.