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Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei has asserted that attendance at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York is Irans legal right.
Being present in New York holds absolutely no appeal for Irans representatives. However, it is a stronghold that must not be abandoned. Irans participation in the UNGAs session is a legal right, not a favour to be granted to us by someone. Iran is one of the UNs 50 founding members, Baghaei stated during an interview with state-run IRIB TV. It is our duty as the Iranian nations representatives to attend this major international event to make the world hear the Iranian peoples rightfulness, he said, accusing the other side of employing every available tool to prevent the Iranian delegations participation, according to the Xinhua news agency. Baghaei added that such obstructionism and negative propaganda will never make Iran back down from its legitimate right to participate in the session and articulate its positions. The United States said it would issue visas to Irans core delegation for the UNGA consistent with our host country obligations, according to a statement by the US State Department on Thursday. The delegation is smaller than last year, the statement said. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump will put Irans nuclear ambitions at the centre of his United Nations diplomacy next week, with talks planned with Gulf leaders and US officials warning of further consequences for entities doing business with Tehran. Trump will address the UN General Assembly on Tuesday before meeting Gulf Cooperation Council leaders in New York. Officials said Iran would be a major subject of discussion, but did not confirm whether the President or other US representatives would meet Iranian officials. US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said Trumps speech would stress the importance of ensuring Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon. He said that demand had also been reflected in repeated UN Security Council resolutions. The speech would cover diplomatic agreements and unresolved conflicts, alongside progress on Trumps 20-point Gaza peace plan, Waltz told reporters here. Asked about possible US-Iran meetings, the official declined to get ahead of the Presidents or Secretary of States final schedule. (ANI)
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