Iranian President Hassan Rouhani addressed the United Nation's General Assembly on Tuesday, calling for "constructive engagement" with countries including the USA. He pointed out that Iran, "does not seek to increase tensions with the United States". He added he wanted to work with other nations, "based on mutual respect and common interest". The speech is seen by many as a considerable change of direction in Iran's foreign policy and could potentially herald new relations with America. The two countries have been bitter foes for the past four decades. President Rouhani also pledged never to develop nuclear weapons, telling delegates they had no place whatsoever in the defence of his country.

The Iranian leader spoke at length about Iran's nuclear program. He stressed that: "Nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction have no place in Iran's security and defence doctrine, and contradict our fundamental religious and ethical convictions." He hinted that Iran could be ready to let U.N. inspectors back into the country's nuclear facilities, saying: "Our national interests make it imperative that we remove any and all reasonable concerns about Iran's peaceful nuclear program." Mr Rouhani also tried to expel the notion that Iran was a danger to the Middle East. He said: "Iran poses absolutely no threat to the world or the region," and added that the "so-called Iranian threat" was imaginary.