Rights situation in Iran ‘deeply troubling’ after June conflict, says UN rapporteur

“We’re not afraid of war. We do not seek war,” he told NBC’s Tom Llamas. “President Trump has said that his administration has come to create peace, but the path that they have embarked upon will set fire to the entire region.”

Iran would never initiate a conflict but would give “the strongest answer” to any attack, Pezeshkian said.

Tehran continues to build its defense capabilities to deter adversaries, he added.

On nuclear issues, he rejected suggestions that Iran is developing weapons, pointing to the Supreme Leader’s fatwa against weapons of mass destruction.

He said inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency were welcome to visit sites in Iran, dismissing reliance on satellite images as insufficient.

Iran has resumed construction at an underground mountain site following US and Israeli strikes on its nuclear facilities, with satellite imagery and analysts indicating the work may reflect efforts to rebuild its damaged nuclear program.

The president also commented on domestic unrest, saying Iranians “have a right to choose” in response to questions about the enforcement of hijab laws. He acknowledged mishandling of Mahsa Amini’s case but accused outside observers of exaggerating Iran’s record while ignoring civilian deaths in Lebanon, Gaza, Yemen, and Syria.

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has ruled out direct talks with the US on missiles and uranium enrichment.

The president also referred to an injury he sustained during Israeli strikes in June’s 12-day war, saying doctors drained fluid from his knee and that the wound was minor.

Mostafa Sepahvand, 39, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 44, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 55, appeared via video link from a high-security prison in south London.

The three Iranian nationals have been charged with engaging in conduct likely to assist a foreign intelligence service between 14 August 2024 and 16 February 2025.

Sepahvand has also been charged with engaging in conduct, namely surveillance, reconnaissance and open-source research, between 14 August 2024 and 16 February 2025, intending to commit acts, namely serious violence against a person in the United Kingdom.

Manesh and Noori have also been charged with engaging in conduct, namely surveillance and reconnaissance, with the intention that acts, namely serious violence against a person in the United Kingdom, would be committed by others.

The charges include collecting information and planning to commit acts of violence on British soil.

Their targets are allegedly staff members of Iran International.

At today’s hearing, Farhad Manesh’s application for bail was refused by the Judge, the Honourable Mrs Cheema-Grubb.

All three accused will be held in remand until the trial itself begins on October 5, 2026, at London’s Woolwich Crown Court.

The three are the first Iranian nationals to be prosecuted under the UK’s 2023 National Security Act, a law designed to counter threats from hostile states.

Iran International, founded in 2017, has reported escalating threats, particularly after the 2022 “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests. Its staff have reported death threats, harassment of relatives abroad, and attacks

Rights groups and the broadcaster accuse Iranian authorities of waging a sustained campaign against Iran International since its launch, including hacking attempts attributed to actors linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The resolution aimed to extend sanctions relief under Security Council Resolution 2231 for six months to allow further diplomacy.

Russia, China, Algeria, and Pakistan voted in favor, while the United States, Britain, France, and five other members opposed it. Guyana and South Korea abstained.

Dorothy Shea, Acting US Representative to the UN advised Russia and China to ask Iran for full cooperation instead of postponing the sanctions.

“They must press leaders in Tehran to take meaningful immediate steps to fulfill its commitments and obligations, including by fully cooperating with the IAEA,” Shea said.

British ambassador to the UN Barbara Woodward told the Security Council the doors to diplomacy are not yet closed.

"The United Kingdom remains committed to pursuing a diplomatic solution that ensures Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon, while maintaining Iran's right to a civil nuclear program in line with the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty."

Russia's representative at the meeting said Moscow "had hoped that the US, that European colleagues in the US, would think twice and that they would opt for the path of diplomacy and dialog instead of their clumsy blackmail, which merely results in escalation of the situation in the region."

However, the envoy said, "what did we see instead, in the 29 days that have elapsed since then, was the very same typical scenario for Europeans of pressure."

Iran had already warned if the UN sanctions reinstated, it will halt cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, (IAEA).

Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi told the UN Security Council that "Iran put forward several constructive proposals in New York to avert an unnecessary and avoidable crisis, all were ignored."

"I have to remind the distinguished representative of France that two nights ago, I agreed with your foreign minister a framework agreement, but he was not able to get the agreement of the United States," Araghchi said.

Following the Security Council meeting, Araghchi told Iran International that the reimposition of UN sanctions could jeopardize Tehran's cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog.

The snapback mechanism was triggered on August 28 by France, Germany, and the UK (E3), citing Iran's "significant non-performance,” including enriched uranium stockpiles exceeding JCPOA limits and restricted IAEA access to facilities like Natanz and Fordow.

With UN sanctions on Iran set to be reinstated on September 28, Tehran will halt cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Larijani warned.

“We have pursued every option and mechanism available to resolve this conflict peacefully,” he said in an interview with PBS’s Frontline, recorded on September 22 and partially aired Friday.

Larijani warned US President Donald Trump against new attacks, saying Iran will never surrender.

Asked about damage to bombed nuclear sites, Larijani declined to provide details: “We haven't abandoned any of those locations. They could continue operating as they are or be shut down in the future.”

‘Know-how can’t be taken away’

Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran in June, targeting nuclear and military sites as well as key officials. Iran retaliated with drones and ballistic missiles.

On June 22, the United States joined the campaign, striking nuclear sites at Natanz, Fordow, and Esfahan. A US-brokered ceasefire between Iran and Israel was established on June 24.

Iran’s national security chief dismissed assertions that the country’s nuclear capabilities had been destroyed.

“Iran's nuclear program cannot be destroyed. Once a technology is discovered, it can't be taken away. It's like inventing a machine that gets stolen—you can still rebuild it,” Larijani said.

‘Unreasonable terms’

Any talks about curbing Tehran’s missile program are a non-starter, Larijani said.

“The Americans insist we negotiate specifically about Iran's missiles. They’ve demanded no enrichment at all, or missile ranges below 300 kilometers (185 miles), now 500 kilometers (310 miles) — essentially stripping us of key defensive and offensive capabilities.”

US president Donald Trump told the UN General Assembly on Tuesday that he had offered full cooperation in exchange for Iran suspending its nuclear program, but said his letter to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was met with threats.

Larijani said the Islamic Republic is open to dialogue but will reject what he called “unreasonable” terms.

Netanyahu described Iran's pre-war nuclear efforts as an existential threat to Israel and a mortal danger to the world, aimed at destruction and global blackmail.

"Iran was rapidly developing a massive nuclear weapons program and a massive ballistic missile program," he told the UN General Assembly. "We devastated Iran's atomic weapons and ballistic missiles programs."

Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran in June, targeting nuclear and military sites and top military and nuclear officials. Iran retaliated by firing drones and ballistic missiles.

Iran reported over 1,000 fatalities and 5,332 injured while Tehran's counterattacks killed 31 Israeli civilians and an off-duty soldier.

The United States on June 22 joined the campaign, targeting nuclear sites in Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan. Two days later, US President Donald Trump brokered a ceasefire between Iran and Israel.

"President Trump and I delivered on our promise to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons,” Netanyahu said, praising the US president for "his bold and decisive action".

"We must not allow Iran to rebuild its military nuclear capacities. Iran's stockpiles of enriched uranium must be eliminated, and UN Security Council sanctions on Iran must be snapped back,” Netanyahu said.

The United Kingdom, France and Germany have activated the snapback mechanism under the UN Security Council Resolution, meaning the UN sanctions will go back into effect on September 28 unless the Security Council takes action by tomorrow.

Israel not done yet

Netanyahu said that "Israel rebounded from its darkest day to deliver one of the most stunning military comebacks in history, but we're not done yet."

He called Iran the core of a terror axis, backing proxies like Hamas, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Houthis in Yemen, who "shout Death to America" and murder innocents.

In what he called a "pop quiz" for the delegates, Netanyahu asked: "Who shouts ‘Death to America?" and "Who has murdered Americans and Europeans in cold blood?” He said the answer was Iran and its allied forces.

Netanyahu spoked and envisioned a future where Iranian people overthrow the government in Iran, restoring ancient ties with Israel for global benefit.

The Israeli prime minister has in recent years repeatedly addressed the Iranian public through video messages, urging them to rise up against the Islamic Republic and reject their leaders.

In these messages, Benjamin Netanyahu has often portrayed Israel as a friend of the Iranian people while condemning Iran’s government for its nuclear program, regional policies, and human rights record.