Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has addressed the U.N. General Assembly, calling for "constructive engagement" that is "based on mutual respect and common interest". He pointed out that he didn't seek to increase tensions with the U.S. The speech is seen by many as a big change of direction in Iran's foreign policy and could potentially see new relations with America. The two countries have been bitter enemies for many decades. President Rouhani also pledged never to develop nuclear weapons, saying 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." Iran could let U.N. inspectors back into its nuclear facilities. Rouhani said: "Our national interests make it imperative that we remove any and all reasonable concerns about Iran's peaceful nuclear program." He also said Iran posed no threat to the world and that the "so-called Iranian threat" was imaginary.