Iran's Leader Says Nuclear Tech Is for Progress, Not Bombs

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian spoke at the big yearly meeting of the United Nations on 23 September 2026. He said Iran wants nuclear technology "for progress, not to threaten societies with weapons." UN General Debate

The United Nations lists the speech as 'Iran - General Debate, 81st Session,' dated 23 Sep 2026. The video is 00:19:01 long. UN Web TV It runs 19 minutes. The page names Pezeshkian as Iran's speaker.

In plain terms, he said the program is for building the country up, not for making bombs. CNN reported those words from the speech. CNN

He has used strong words before about pressure and enrichment. Enrichment is the step that makes uranium fuel for power plants. In February 2026, Pezeshkian said Iran would not bow its head to pressure from world powers during nuclear talks with the United States. Reuters He has also said Tehran will not give up its "right to enrichment" and the United States "will be forced to accept it." Reuters Video

This was his third year in a row speaking there. He gave Iran's speech at the 80th Session in New York on 24 September 2025. Official transcript The United Nations shares the English text as a PDF and keeps a page titled "Iran (Islamic Republic of) | 80th session - General Debate". UN General Debate 80th Session Iran's presidency notes say he spoke on Wednesday at the 80th session and on Tuesday local time the year before at the 79th session in New York. Iranian Presidency 80th Iranian Presidency 79th

The broader context here is that this yearly UN meeting works like a public microphone. Leaders do not fix small details there. They state their starting point for all to hear, at home and abroad.

Looking to what happens next, Tehran's starting point is clear. Civilian use, yes. Giving up enrichment, no. Giving in to pressure, no. That statement alone does not change inspection rules or how talks with Washington work. It shows where Iran wants talks to start, and close attention will go to how the U.S. answers, in public or in private.