TEHRAN- Upon his arrival in New York on Monday, President Ebrahim Raisi said Tehran will never trust the U.S. that reneges on its promises.

President Raisi arrived in New York to participate in the annual meeting session of the UN General Assembly. 

Heading a high-ranking delegation, Raisi arrived in John F. Kennedy International Airport and was welcomed by Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran's permanent ambassador to the United Nations, and a number of other Iranian diplomats.

Talking to reporters while he arrived in New York, the president said the UN should serve as the voice of the nations and not that of the great powers. 

“Nations expect the United Nations to be an organization of ‘nations’ because if it becomes an organization of ‘states’, the voice of nations will not be heard,” he added.

He stressed that the UN’s and the General Assembly’s capabilities could be used to convey the voice of the Iranian people and define the Islamic Republic's foreign policy.

The Iranian president declared a “big victory” over the enemy’s hybrid warfare which began last September, referring to heated rallies in Iran caused by the grisly death of Mahsa Amini, an Iranian woman of Kurdish origin, in September last year.

He went on to say that the enemy wrongly assumed that such provocations would cause problems for the Islamic Revolution, but they were mistaken again, and “the Iranian nation has successfully overcome this struggle.”

In the face of the enemy, Raisi emphasized the significance of highlighting the “important messages” of the Iranian nation's accomplishments.

He asserted that the great country of Iran has something to say in the struggle against injustice, defense of human rights, and campaign against corruption.

In a meeting with American media executives, the president emphasized certain points regarding the recent prisoner swap with the United States.  

He also expressed appreciation to Oman and Qatar for cooperation in carrying out the exchange. 

“If the U.S. had not left the negotiation table with a miscalculation and indulgence in riots (in Iran), this humanitarian action could have been done much earlier,” he remarked.

Raisi noted that Tehran has never put trust in the U.S. over its checkered history of reneging on its obligations. “Every step towards fulfilling commitments can help build trust.

“Interaction with other nations and international bodies form a pillar of Iran’s foreign policy” 

In a late Sunday interview, before departing Tehran for New York, Raisi noted that one of the foundations of the Islamic Republic’s policy is contact with other nations as well as regional and international organizations.

“One of the pillars of the Islamic Republic’s policy is interaction with world countries as well as regional, extra-regional and international organizations,” Raisi stated. 

He continued by saying that as a UN member, Iran expects the United Nations to play a pivotal role in advancing global development, security, peace, and justice.

“Decisions made by the United Nations must be free from discrimination and injustice, and should not be affected by the big powers,” Iran’s president emphasized.

Raisi also noted that his visit will strengthen Iran’s bilateral ties with other nations taking part in the UN meeting. “I will hold mutual meetings with those heads of state who take part in the General Assembly’s meeting.”

“Countering the enemy’s media empire is on the agenda of my visit to New York and I will be the voice of the Iranian people to explain the facts about Iran to other governments and nations,” the president remarked.   

Raisi added, “I hope this trip will be effective in accomplishing the mission that the people of Iran have entrusted to the administration, and we will be able to meet the expectations and convey the viewpoints of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, and also explain the standpoints of Iran.”

The president went on to say that he would meet with legislators and talk to media outlets to elaborate on the Islamic Republic’s stance on various subjects.

The 78th UNGA session will take place on September 18-26. The presence of high-ranking officials from different countries at the annual event provides a good opportunity for international political consultations and bilateral dialogues.

Foreign Ministry says there's possibility of nuclear talks in New York

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman also said on Monday that the Islamic Republic fully adheres to the path of diplomacy concerning the fulfillment of the Iranian nation's rights.

Nasser Kanaani said Iran will use diplomatic opportunities to realize the goal.

Based on the interest of the negotiating partners Iran will consider negotiations for the return of all parties to the JCPOA, the diplomat remarked.

In case there is an opening for the lifting of sanctions and the return of all parties to the JCOPA, Iran will give it a shot, the spokesman said of diplomatic talks to lift sanctions. 

The spokesman went on to say that within the aforementioned framework, there will be a possibility of conducting negotiations with mediators on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York. 

Analysts have already said President Raisi and his entourage may hold talks with the Western parties to the nuclear deal to revive the tattered 2015 nuclear deal.

The annual UN meeting provides an opportunity for President Raisi’s right-hand men in foreign policy to negotiate with chief diplomats from Germany, France, Britain, and European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. 

Also, there is a possibility of indirect or even direct talks with the United States on the nuclear deal. The chances for talks between the two sides have increased as the two countries broke the ice through a recent landmark prisoner swap deal, which saw five prisoners from Iran and five from the United States being exchanged on Monday.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian has already said it is possible to resume nuclear talks based on the September document. 

The September document refers to the content of the nuclear blueprint which negotiations on it were halted in September 2022.