Iranian President: Important For International Society To Ceasefire In Gaza, End Israel's Barbarity

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at the UN General Assembly. (Source: IRNA)

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said it was important to immediately reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, Palestine, and end the barbarity in Israel in Lebanon, stressing his country was ready to work closely with world powers to end the stalemate of the nuclear issue.

This was conveyed by President Pezeshkian while speaking at the annual UN General Assembly which was held in New York, United States.

Serving since last August after winning the second round of Iran's elections in July, President Pezeshkian, a relatively moderate politician, promised pragmatic foreign policy, criticizing arch-enemy Iran, Israel, for what he called "genocide in Gaza."

"It is very important for the international community to immediately secure a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and end Israel's desperate barbarity in Lebanon, before hitting the region and the world," he said.

Israel launched an expanded attack on Lebanese territory on the pretext of targeting the Hezbollah militant group's targets.

Lebanese Ministry of Health said at least 560 people were killed and 1,835 others injured as a result of Israeli attacks over the past two days, quoted by Al Jazeera.

The Hezbollah group and Israel have been involved in attacking each other on the Lebanese border over the past year, following the outbreak of the conflict in the Gaza Strip with Hezbollah expressing its support for the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Israel's airstrikes in Beirut killed a senior Hezbollah commander on Tuesday as cross-border rocket attacks by both sides raised fears of a massive war.

"We want peace for all and do not intend to conflict with any country. Iran opposes war and emphasizes the need for an immediate cessation of military conflict in Ukraine," said President Pezeshkian.

On the occasion, President Pezeshkian also stressed that Iran is ready to end its nuclear deadlock with the West, and calls for an end to Russia's war in Ukraine through dialogue.

"We are ready to engage with the 2015 nuclear deal participants. If the commitment of the deal is fully implemented and with good faith, dialogue on other issues can follow," said President Pezeshkian.

President Donald Trump brought the United States to leave the 2015 nuclear pact between Tehran and the world's six major countries in 2018, reimposing tough sanctions on Iran. Efforts to revive the pact have so far not been successful.

The 2015 deal before it was abandoned succeeded in limiting Iran's uranium enrichment to 3.67 percent purity and this material supply by 202.8 kg (447 pounds). The limit has long been exceeded by Tehran since then.

For Britain, France, and Germany, which remain parties to the nuclear deal, there is a feeling Tehran's leadership will not change the direction and broader deal that includes Iran's nuclear program and geopolitical role being unrealistic for now.

The United States, its allies in Europe and Israel accuse Tehran of using its nuclear program as a cover for efforts to develop weapons manufacturing capabilities. Instead, Iran said its nuclear program was only for peaceful purposes.