Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian used the United Nations stage Wednesday to accuse the United States and Israel of “terrorism” and killing Iranian civilians.
The U.S. delegation walked out of the chamber.
“We have been the victims of terrorism,” Pezeshkian told the General Assembly.
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He insisted Iran was only defending itself, denied targeting civilians, and declared: “We are not terrorists.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio fired back, pointing to Tehran’s own record of crushing dissent at home and backing armed groups across the Middle East.
“I don’t know what standing Iran has to lecture anyone on human rights or the international system when they habitually violate it,” Rubio said.
He accused the regime of “slaughtering 10,000 of your own people in protest” and sponsoring terrorist organizations that attack neighboring countries, energy infrastructure and civilian targets.
“They slaughter their own people,” Rubio said.
Watch the clip below:
🚨 BREAKING: Sen. Marco Rubio just had the MIC DROP OF A LIFETIME against Iran’s President lecturing America at the United Nations
“I don’t know what standing Iran has to lecture **ANYONE** on human rights or the international system when they habitually violate it.”
“Yeah. I… https://t.co/aienfmkD8p pic.twitter.com/Lfe3rSnqc3
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) September 23, 2026
