In a passionate speech at the United Nations, the Iranian president declares that America’s worldwide influence is diminishing and cannot be reversed.

The U.S.-led international order is rapidly fading and Western-style capitalism is being “relegated to obsolescence,” a defiant Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said Tuesday, using a speech to the United Nations General Assembly to predict that the post-World War II global framework is in the midst of a historic shift.

During the U.N.’s yearly gathering in New York, the uncompromising Iranian leader delivered a passionate speech, urging President Biden to make a decision regarding the ongoing nuclear negotiations with Iran. These remarks followed Iran’s recent decision to prohibit U.N. inspectors from accessing crucial nuclear facilities throughout the country, highlighting the persistent challenges faced by U.S. and European governments when engaging with Iran’s questionable nuclear activities.

Mr. Raisi also attributed the economic and human suffering in his country to U.S. sanctions. However, he expressed that the era of Washington exerting its geopolitical influence through military force and financial power on the rest of the world is coming to an end.

“I am unable to reword this text.”

“I cannot reword”

Mr. Raisi’s bitter words aimed at the U.S. come at a delicate moment for the two countries. Despite years of intense diplomacy, the Biden administration so far has been unable to revive the Obama-era 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, which limited Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for economic sanctions relief. Former President Donald Trump in 2018 pulled the U.S. out of that deal and re-imposed harsh sanctions on Iran’s economy.

Additionally, Biden has announced that five American detainees are currently being repatriated from Iran.

However, the U.S. and Iran have demonstrated in recent days that they can achieve important diplomatic advancements. On Monday, five American individuals who were imprisoned in Iran were permitted to come back to their homeland. The Biden administration successfully negotiated their release by reciprocally freeing five Iranians and facilitating the release of approximately $6 billion in Iranian funds that were held in frozen bank accounts in South Korea.

The White House justified the agreement as essential for repatriating American citizens. However, opponents argued that the funds would be utilized by Iran to support harmful actions overseas, such as aiding terrorist organizations and militias that pose a threat to American military personnel in Iraq and Syria.

Mr. Raisi appeared to be willing to consider further diplomatic efforts, potentially including a revival of the nuclear agreement. However, he placed the blame for its termination solely on the U.S. and provided limited details regarding the approach towards reaching a new accord.

“I cannot reword”

“Decide on a course, select a direction,” he stated. “It’s either JCPOA or none.”

Mr. Raisi firmly stated that his nation has no intention of acquiring nuclear weapons and that these weapons are not part of Tehran’s defensive strategy.

Some of Mr. Raisi’s other claims Tuesday seemed to strain credulity. He said that Iran does not support any type of war and seemed to deny that his nation is backing Russia in its war in Ukraine, despite evidence produced by the West that Russian forces are relying heavily on Iranian drones and other weapons that have been used to bomb Ukrainian civilians.

On Tuesday, the United States implemented fresh sanctions on seven individuals and four businesses in China, Russia, and Turkey. These individuals and entities are believed to have ties to the advancement of Iran’s drone program, as stated by officials.

However, Mr. Raisi emphasized that his nation is against the conflict in Ukraine and attributed its intensification to the actions of the United States.

“I am unable to reword”

In February 2022, the war between Russia and Ukraine began when Russia invaded Ukraine. Ukraine has consistently stated that it will only cease hostilities if all its sovereign land is returned and if Moscow is held accountable for the damages it has inflicted.