Syria's al-Sharaa and Iran's Pezeshkian address UN: Golan stays Syrian, Tehran to 'bend at knee' never
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Neutral summary
Addressing the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa insisted the Golan Heights will remain Syrian, calling Israel's annexation 'null and void' under Security Council Resolution 497, and demanded Israeli withdrawal from territory captured after Assad's fall in December 2024. He condemned Israeli strikes and incursions, warning they endanger Syria's fragile post-war recovery. As Mint and Euronews report, al-Sharaa told of telling Trump he had no right to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan, quipping: 'Why don't you give New Jersey to Israelis?' This followed Colombia's August recognition of Israeli sovereignty — making it the second country, after the US, to do so. Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, speaking for the first time since the US-Israel war on Iran began, described Iranians as 'victims of terrorism' and accused Washington of assassinating former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He said Tehran is open to dialogue but will not accept 'the language of force', vowing 'we will never bow our head[s] or bend at the knee', as Middle East Eye quotes. The Japan Times and Inquirer note Trump had threatened to 'annihilate' Iran the day before. Per Middle East Eye, Pezeshkian also criticized nuclear hypocrisy, saying 'There are nuclear bombs in Israel, yet inspectors are in Iran.' RT and IRNA report he asserted no power can destroy Iran.
How it was framed
Outlets: 16. Countries: 11. Facts in the shared core: 4.
Publication timeline
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Al Jazeera (outlet profile)
Syria’s al-Sharaa answers questions on Israel’s violations in Syria. Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa says Donald Trump should give New Jersey to Israel, instead of the Golan Heights.
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Middle East Eye (outlet profile)
Syria’s Sharaa says Golan Heights will remain Syrian. Syria’s Sharaa says Golan Heights will remain Syrian Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa insisted at the UN Wednesday that the Golan Heights region will remain Syrian a…
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Al-Monitor (outlet profile)
Golan will remain Syrian, vows President al-Sharaa at UN. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa insisted at the UN Wednesday that the Golan Heights region will remain Syrian after Colombia last month recognized Israeli sover…
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France 24 (outlet profile)
Golan will remain Syrian, vows President al-Sharaa at UN. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa insisted at the UN Wednesday that the Golan Heights region will remain Syrian after Colombia last month recognized Israeli sover…
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Euronews (outlet profile)
Al-Sharaa vows Golan Heights will remain Syrian in UN speech. At an Atlantic Council panel the day before, the Syrian president said he openly told Trump he had no right to recognise Israeli sovereignty over the Golan,…
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Al Jazeera (outlet profile)
Al-Sharaa: Occupied Golan Heights to ‘remain Syrian territory’. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa demanded the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Syrian territory.
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Axios (outlet profile)
Iran president: We have been "victims of terrorism". Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian forcefully rejected President Trump's portrayal of Iran as a source of terrorism at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, insistin…
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Haaretz (outlet profile)
Syrian President al-Sharaa: Golan will remain Syrian territory, Israel must withdraw. Al-Sharaa condemned Israeli strikes and incursions, calling for an Israeli withdrawal from territory taken after Assad's fall in Dece…
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Al Jazeera (outlet profile)
Syria’s al-Sharaa warns Israeli attacks endanger delicate post-war recovery. President Ahmed al-Sharaa calls for Israeli withdrawal, condemning its attacks as Syria emerges from civil war.
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Mint (outlet profile)
‘Why don’t you give New Jersey to Israelis?’ Syria’s al-Sharaa recalls Trump exchange over Golan Heights at UNGA. Al-Sharaa said he made the remark after Trump told him that the Golan Heights belonged to Israel. He adde…
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Middle East Eye (outlet profile)
Israel’s UN envoy, defense minister reassert claim to Golan after al-Sharaa speech. Israel’s UN envoy, defense minister reassert claim to Golan after al-Sharaa speech Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Wednes…
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Middle East Eye (outlet profile)
Sharaa says Israeli attacks on Syria at odds with 'joy' of global community towards his country. Sharaa says Israeli attacks on Syria at odds with 'joy' of global community towards his country Submitted by Sean Mathews…
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Middle East Eye (outlet profile)
Sharaa says Israeli attacks on Syria at odds with 'joy' of global community towards his country. Sharaa says Israeli attacks on Syria at odds with 'joy' of global community towards his country Syrian President Ahma…
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Middle East Eye (outlet profile)
UN General Assembly 2026: Arab and Muslim leaders denounce militarism engulfing region. UN General Assembly 2026: Arab and Muslim leaders denounce militarism engulfing region Submitted by Sean Mathews on Wed, 09/23/2026…
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Middle East Eye (outlet profile)
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 h…
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CBS News (outlet profile)
What to know about Iranian president's U.N. speech. Speeches and diplomacy continued at the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday. CBS News Middle East contributor Courtney Kealy has more.
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Mint (outlet profile)
US-Iran War News Live: Iran cancels flights as sanctions hit, Indian seafarer killed in strike off Oman coast. US-Iran War Live: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian delivered a defiant speech at UN. Pezeshkian held a im…
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The Japan Times (outlet profile)
Iran, U.S. still far apart in peace talks, Iranian official says; Pezeshkian vows no surrender. Iran's president condemned what he called a "bullying mentality" from U.S. President Donald Trump, who this week had threat…
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Inquirer.net (outlet profile)
Iran president tells Trump: Tehran will never 'bend at the knee'. UNITED NATIONS — Iran’s president struck a defiant tone at the UN on Wednesday where he spoke for the first time since Washington and Israel…
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Middle East Eye (outlet profile)
Watch: Pezeshkian says Iran would not ‘bend the knee’ to US threats in UN speech. Watch: Pezeshkian says Iran would not ‘bend the knee’ to US threats in UN speech Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told the United Nati…
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Inquirer.net (outlet profile)
Golan Heights will remain Syrian, vows President al-Sharaa at UN. UNITED NATION, United States — Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa insisted at the United Nations Wednesday that the Golan Heights is Syrian land, dis…
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RT - Daily news (outlet profile)
Iranian president responds to Trump’s ‘annihilation’ threat. Tehran is open to dialogue with Washington, but it will not accept the language of force, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said Read Full Article at RT…
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TheJournal.ie (outlet profile)
President tells Trump that Iran will never 'bend at the knee'. Masoud Pezeshkian accused Washington of “terrorism” for assassinating former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at the start of the conflict.
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IRNA (outlet profile)
Pezeshkian says no power can destroy Iran. New York, IRNA – President Masoud Pezeshkian says that no power can destroy Iran as the country has deep historical roots.
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IRNA (outlet profile)
Iran embassy in Indonesia highlights Pezeshkian’s UN message. Iran’s embassy in Indonesia posted an image on social media on Thursday featuring excerpts from President Masoud Pezeshkian’s address to the United Nations G…
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Naked Capitalism (outlet profile)
Iran War: Pezeshkian Says His Piece at the UN, China Won’t Sanction Iranian Airlines. The Iranian president replied to Trump's speech at the UN. China declined to join Trump's new sanctions on Iran, fighting continued i…
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The Hill (outlet profile)
Did we just hear the Iranian regime's last speech at the UN?. When Masoud Pezeshkian stood before the United Nations, he spoke in the name of Iran. That was the first deception. The Islamic Republic — the Shia Caliphate…
Factual core
- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian responded to Donald Trump's speech at the United Nations.
- Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said at the UN on Wednesday that the Golan Heights will remain Syrian territory.
- Trump had threatened to 'annihilate' Iran earlier this week.
- Pezeshkian condemned what he called a 'bullying mentality' from U.S. President Donald Trump.