Protesters Confront Iranian President Outside UN, Demand Sanctions

Outside the United Nations General Assembly, where Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed world leaders, a large group of protestors chanted calls for a free Iran and demanded accountability for the current regime. Waving the green, white, and red flags of the resistance, demonstrators repeatedly shouted, "They are terrorists, they must go!"

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was among those speaking at the rally, stating, "The president of Iran speaks and lies over and over again. He is a murderer. He is a terrorist." He drew a parallel to historical dictators, saying, "This would be like trying to reach an agreement with Hitler."

Other former government officials echoed sentiments critical of the Iranian regime's human rights record. Ret. Lt. General Keith Kellogg urged the international community to support a "secular, non-nuclear Republic of Iran, one that rejoins the free world as a friend." He added, "It is time now to free Iran from the Mullahs."

Former U.S. Ambassador Marc Ginsberg advocated for the passage of the "Maximum Support Act," legislation aimed at curbing Iran's resources, confiscating government assets, and supporting internet freedom within the country to empower the Iranian populace. He also called for support for the Iranian people, stating, "All you have to do, President Trump, is to provide the funding and the support that we need, the tools the Iranian people need."

Maryam Rajavi, president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), which sponsored the protest, conveyed a message asserting that "the people of Iran have rejected every form of dictatorship, whether religious or monarchical." She emphasized that the "voice of protest from Iran's oppressed people is being heard" and rejects the "continued occupation of Iran's seat by religious fanatics."

Alireza Jafarzadeh, Deputy Director of the NCRI's Washington D.C. office, told Fox News that "the regime is incapable of reform and change." He stated, "The real solution for Iran is change by the people of Iran. They can have any talks, any concessions, none of that is going to change the behavior of the regime." Jafarzadeh concluded, "The real Iran is represented by the people of Iran. The real change has to come from within."

The protests occurred as President Pezeshkian addressed the UN, where he reportedly portrayed Iran as a victim of terrorism, a narrative sharply contrasted by the demonstrators outside.