live UNGA: 'Iran has never sought and will never seek to build a nuclear bomb' - Pezeshkian

Iran has no intention to build nuclear weapons, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday, just days before international sanctions could be reimposed on his country over Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

"I hereby declare once more before this assembly that Iran has never sought and will never seek to build a nuclear bomb. We do not seek nuclear weapons," Pezeshkian said.

On August 28, Britain, France and Germany launched a 30-day process to reimpose U.N. sanctions that ends on September 27, accusing Tehran of failing to abide by a 2015 deal with world powers aimed at preventing it from developing a nuclear weapon.

The European powers have offered to delay reinstating sanctions for up to six months to allow space for talks on a long-term deal if Iran restores access for U.N. nuclear inspectors, addresses concerns about its stock of enriched uranium, and engages in talks with the United States.

Pezeshkian accused the so-called E3 of triggering the process to return international sanctions on Iran at "the behest of the United States of America."

UKRAINE

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine has called on the international community to act in the war against Russia and brace up for an international arms race.

He spoke of Taliban taking over in Afghanistan and some drug cartels overtaking Governments citing them as examples of collapse of international law globally.

Paid tribute to Iryna Zarutska who was brutally murdered in America and said that weapons are evolving faster than humans are. 

He accused Russia of advancing war tech referencing the recent cyber attack that grounded flights and caused disruptions in European airports. 

He urged the international community to act fast in an "arms race" to prevent a total break down of law and order and cause serious damage.

"The world moves too slowly to protect itself."

“It’s only a matter of time before drones are fighting drones... all by themselves, fully autonomous.”

“We are now living through the most destructive arms race in human history” as a result of artificial intelligence.

He says at the end of his speech that "Peace depends on all of us".

SPAIN

His majesty Don Felipe VI of Spain opened the floor on the second day of the United States General Assembly currently ongoing in New York. He spoke about the UN, Russia - Ukraine war and Israel and Gaza.

"Peace in Europe will not be possible without justice and accountabiility he said in reference to Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. 

King Felipe added that "Spain will continue to push for a just end to war". 

"We can't remain silent and look away from the bombings, displacements and killings, these are anborrent acts that stand in contrast to everything this forum represents" 

On the ongoing in Gaza, he asked that Israel must remember their strong ties, referring to Sephardic jews who were granted Spanish citizenship.

When we speak to Irsael we speak to brothers and sisters...we cry out to the Israeli government, 'stop this massacre now'.

"We condemn the actions of Hamas, we recognize Israel's right to self defence but ask that Israel uphold humanitarian law throughout Gaza and the West Bank"

He also called for a release fo all hostages still being held by Hamas. 

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