Iranian president rejects Trump’s terrorism accusation, says Iran ‘victim of terrorism’

Iranian president rejects Trump’s terrorism accusation, says Iran ‘victim of terrorism’

Addressing UN General Assembly, Masoud Pezeshkian accuses Israel of assassinations, attacks across Iran, says Iranians have defended country for past 7 months

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian rejected US President Donald Trump’s characterization of Iran as a sponsor of terrorism Wednesday, saying Tehran is itself a victim of terrorism.

“Yesterday, Trump said we are terrorists. We are not terrorists — we are victims of terrorism,” Pezeshkian told the UN General Assembly, referring to Trump’s address a day earlier in which the US president described Iran as the “number one sponsor of terror.”

Pezeshkian said Iran’s leader had been killed “without any justification,” referring to the US-Israeli military attacks against Iran that began earlier this year.

He also accused Israel of targeting neighborhoods across Iranian cities and provinces and carrying out assassinations, describing such actions as “true terrorist” behavior.

“The people of Iran have been defending their country for the past seven months,” Pezeshkian said.