Iranian President Hassan Rouhani addressed the U.N. General Assembly. He called for "constructive engagement" based on "mutual respect and common interest". He said he didn't want to increase tensions with the U.S. The speech is seen as a change in Iran's foreign policy. It could see new relations with its decades-old enemy, America. Rouhani promised never to develop nuclear weapons, saying they had no place in the defence of his country.

Iran's leader spoke about nuclear weapons. He said any weapon of mass destruction went against his country's basic religious and ethical beliefs. Iran could let U.N. inspectors back into its nuclear facilities. Rouhani said Iran's national interests mean it is important to remove any and all concerns "about Iran's peaceful nuclear program". He also said Iran was no threat to the world and that the "so-called Iranian threat" was imaginary.