Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s criticism of the United States at the United Nations may have had little impact on President Donald Trump, according to foreign policy expert Behnam Ben Taleblu.
According to a report by Fox News on Thursday, September 24, 2026, Taleblu made the assessment after Pezeshkian and Trump delivered speeches at the U.N. General Assembly in New York less than 24 hours apart.
Pezeshkian used his address to accuse the United States and Israel of attacking Iran, presenting Tehran as the victim of foreign aggression.
Trump, meanwhile, maintained a firm position toward Iran as Washington continues to apply pressure on Tehran amid ongoing tensions between the two countries.
Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), suggested that Trump may see the United States as having greater leverage in the dispute.
“Trump understands he holds the cards, and he may not even have paid much attention to what the Iranian president was saying,” Taleblu told Fox News Digital.
The contrasting speeches reflected the continued disagreement between Washington and Tehran, with both sides defending their respective positions before the international community.
Pezeshkian’s remarks focused on Iran’s criticism of U.S. and Israeli actions, while Trump’s approach continued to emphasise pressure on Tehran.