Iran's president tells Trump it will never 'bend the knee'

Image source, EPA By David Gritten Published 32 minutes ago Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has told the UN General Assembly that it will never "bend the knee" after almost seven months of war with the US and Israel, but is ready for a diplomatic solution to the conflict.

Responding to US President Donald Trump's threat to "annihilate" the Islamic Republic if a deal is not reached soon, Pezeshkian said: "He must know that the resistance of the Iranian people will only increase in the face of sanctions, increased pressure, increased bullying."

He also insisted any deal would have to include an end to the US blockade of Iranian ships and ports.

"It cannot be the case that everyone benefits from the Strait of Hormuz while we are denied access," he said.