UN General Assembly day two: Iran defiant, Xi absent, Zelenskyy urges cutting Russia's revenues
On day two of the UN General Assembly, Iran's president pushed back against US pressure, China's leader skipped the gathering, and Ukraine's president called for tighter limits on Russian oil revenue. Israel's prime minister is set to speak Thursday amid expected protests.
World leaders addressed overlapping global crises on the second day of the UN General Assembly in New York, from Middle East tensions to the war in Ukraine.
Iran's president stands firm
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian combined defiance toward the US with openness to dialogue in his address. He rejected accusations of terrorism, saying his country had only defended itself against attacks, and displayed images of children killed in a strike on a school in Minab that a UN fact-finding mission linked to the US. The US delegation walked out during his speech. Despite this, Donald Trump later said a "very good" meeting had taken place between Iran's foreign minister and US envoys over the Strait of Hormuz.
Xi Jinping skips the assembly
Chinese leader Xi Jinping did not attend the UN session, with Vice-President Han Zheng representing Beijing instead. Trump personally welcomed Xi with a red carpet at a military base ahead of talks on AI, trade and Taiwan. A modest extension to their trade truce was announced, though expectations for a major breakthrough remain low.
Venezuela's 'rebirth'
Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, addressed the UN for the first time since her predecessor's detention on Trump's orders. She promised future elections and said a political dialogue with opposition groups had begun. Trump defended the US intervention in Venezuela, linking it to a large oil deal.
Zelenskyy: target Russia's revenues
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for tighter trade restrictions on Russia, arguing that any income prolongs the war. He warned of a harsh winter ahead for Ukraine due to attacks on energy infrastructure, but said Kyiv could inflict pain on Russia too, citing long-range drone strikes on oil refineries.
Netanyahu speech ahead
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to speak Thursday, with protests anticipated both inside the assembly hall and on New York's streets amid growing international criticism over the West Bank.
