UN General Assembly 2026: Arab and Muslim leaders denounce militarism engulfing region

UN General Assembly 2026: Arab and Muslim leaders denounce militarism engulfing region Arab and Muslim leaders once again focused heavily on the US-Israel war on Iran and the genocide in Gaza on the second day of the United Nations General Assembly.

On Wednesday, it was Iran's turn to respond to US President Donald Trump's Tuesday speech, in which he set the tone by threatening to "annihilate Iran" while, in the same breath, mentioning that he would like to make a deal to end the war.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian implied that he had changed the contents of his speech after hearing the address, which referred to Iranians as "terrorists".

“Those who are terrorists, and train and protect terrorists, describe us as such. We have only defended ourselves.

We are not terrorists,” Pezeshkian said. “America and Israel attacked us.

” Later on Tuesday, Trump held a meeting with several Arab and Muslim leaders where he heaped praise on the officials, but it ended with a lack of agreements or announcements regarding the turmoil in the Middle East.

Read more: UN General Assembly 2026: Arab and Muslim leaders denounce militarism engulfing region Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian speaks as he holds a picture of Ali Khamenei, former Supreme Leader of Iran, during the 81st United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, on 23 September 2026 (Timothy A Clary/AFP)