Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran

Tehran, Sep 20: Iran has asserted its right to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei saying Tehran would not be deterred by what he described as efforts to obstruct its participation.

“Being present in New York holds absolutely no appeal for Iran's representatives. However, it is a stronghold that must not be abandoned,” Baghaei said in an interview with state-run IRIB TV.

He said Iran’s participation in the UNGA was a “legal right, not a favor” and noted that Iran was among the UN’s 50 founding members.

Baghaei said it was the responsibility of Iranian representatives to attend the major international gathering and present Tehran’s position to the world. He accused “the other side” of using various means to prevent the Iranian delegation from participating.

Such “obstructionism and negative propaganda”, he said, would not force Iran to abandon its right to attend the session or articulate its positions.

The United States, meanwhile, has said it will allow Iran’s “core delegation” to attend the UNGA in line with its obligations as host country. The delegation includes Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, according to US officials.

The US State Department said the Iranian delegation would be smaller than last year and would be subject to travel restrictions as well as restrictions on purchasing luxury and certain other goods while in the United States.

The issue comes as tensions between Washington and Tehran remain high amid the ongoing conflict between the two countries and intermittent diplomatic efforts.

US President Donald Trump is expected to place Iran’s nuclear programme at the centre of his UN diplomacy next week. Trump is scheduled to address the General Assembly on Tuesday before holding talks with Gulf Cooperation Council leaders in New York.

US officials have indicated that Iran will be a major subject of discussion, although they have not confirmed whether Trump or other US representatives will hold direct talks with Iranian officials.

US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said Trump’s address would emphasise the need to ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon. He said the position was also reflected in repeated UN Security Council resolutions.

Waltz said the speech would additionally address diplomatic agreements, unresolved conflicts and progress on Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan.

Asked about the possibility of US-Iran meetings on the sidelines of the UNGA, the official declined to comment ahead of the finalisation of the president’s and secretary of state’s schedules.