Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian urged the United States to decide whether to end the ongoing conflict between the two nations, emphasizing that Tehran does not wish to continue hostilities. Speaking in an interview following his attendance at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, Pezeshkian rejected the idea of yielding to Washington amid continued tensions.
Pezeshkian characterized the conflict as largely driven by Israeli actions, stating that Tehran had been forced into confrontation. "When we can resolve issues through dialogue, we shouldn’t resort to killing one another," he said, adding that it was up to the U.S. to determine whether peace talks would proceed. He affirmed Iran’s readiness to reach a deal with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, despite a recent ceasefire collapse.
“Why is it that within two weeks after the signing of an agreement, they chose to blow it up?” Pezeshkian asked, referring to the breakdown of a fragile truce. He indicated that Iran was open to negotiations grounded in international legal frameworks, suggesting the timing—before or after upcoming U.S. midterm elections—was irrelevant to Tehran’s position.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi participated in talks with Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and White House adviser Jared Kushner during the UN assembly, though no immediate breakthrough was reported.
The discussions took place amid escalating violence in Yemen between the Houthi movement and a coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the internationally recognized Yemeni government. The Houthis, widely regarded as Iran-backed, have launched ballistic missile attacks on Saudi territory and have established control over portions of Yemen’s Red Sea coastline—an area critical to Saudi oil exports and regional maritime traffic.
Pezeshkian asserted that the Houthis operate independently and do not receive direct orders from the Iranian government. “The Houthis are responsible for their own actions. They don’t take directions from us,” he said, acknowledging only informal contacts without systematic coordination.
Saudi Arabia recently intercepted several ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis and issued warnings for several areas including Mecca. The ongoing Houthi naval blockade has disrupted shipping lanes, increased risks to Saudi energy infrastructure, and contributed to rising global fuel prices. The group’s territorial gains have solidified Iranian influence in strategic waterways vital to the Gulf region’s oil exports.
The situation remains tense, with diplomatic efforts continuing amid entrenched hostilities and regional power struggles involving Iran, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and their respective allies.