Fox News
· collected 2026-09-23 · by Ashley DiMella, Efrat Lachter, Morgan Phillips
Story summary
US President Donald Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where Xi pressed Trump to adopt Beijing's stance against Taiwan independence, which Taiwan rejected outright. Meanwhile, Taiwan is crucial for global tech and economy due to its leading semiconductor production; TSMC alone produces the majority of advanced chips that power smartphones, AI systems, and more. As Stanford Hoover fellow Eyck Freymann noted, economic disruption from a conflict over Taiwan would be severe.
In unrelated developments, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met with US media at the UN General Assembly, where he denied Iran's nuclear ambitions while offering to dilute its enriched uranium and allow inspections under international law. He also blamed Washington for ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) estimates that Iran has over 440 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60%, raising concerns despite Pezeshkian's denials.
Taiwan's representative, Ambassador Alexander Yui, clarified during an interview on CBS’s "Face the Nation" that while Taiwan was discussed between Trump and Xi, it wasn't a major focus. He emphasized there has been no change in US policy towards Taiwan amid recent tensions with China.
Written for “Taiwan Iran Us Relations Midterms” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 386 other(s) covering the same event.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian defended Tehran’s conduct in its war with the United States on Wednesday, taking aim at President Donald Trump and vowing that Iran would not surrender during a fiery address before world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly.
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Iran → defend → Assembly
The speech follows months of fighting, failed diplomatic efforts and mounting international pressure on Tehran, giving Pezeshkian a high-profile platform to defend Iran’s actions and challenge the U.S. account of the conflict.
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speech → follow → conflict
"America and Israel attacked us, equipped with the latest technology and weapons systems, and our people stood steadfast.
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people → attack → technology
Yes, they did hit us, but we did not bend the knee.
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we → hit → knee
We did not bow our head," said Pezeshkian.
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Pezeshkian → bow → head
"Those who are terrorists and train and protect terrorists describe us as such.
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who → train → us
We have only defended ourselves.
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We → defend → ourselves
Fox News Digital compiled the top moments from Pezeshkian’s speech and the developments unfolding both inside and outside the U.N.
Protesters gather outside UN, jeering the Iranian president's visit
Pezeshkian’s fiery attacks on Trump and the United States came amid a hostile reception in New York City, where protesters gathered to denounce the Iranian government as its president addressed world leaders at the United Nations.
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani joined a "Free Iran" rally outside the U.N., where protesters denounced Tehran as Pezeshkian addressed world leaders.
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Pezeshkian → compile → leaders
Demonstrators waved Iranian flags while denouncing Iran’s government over its repression of political dissent, restrictions on women’s rights and treatment of opposition figures.
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Demonstrators → wave → figures
US delegate walks out as Iran vows 'we will not bend the knee' at UN
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we → walk → UN
As the emcee announced Pezeshkian's impending speech, audible boos erupted from the protest crowd outside the UN as the leader walked out onto the stage.
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leader → announce → stage
A member of the U.S. delegation walked out of the General Assembly hall after Pezeshkian began criticizing the United States during his speech, Fox News Digital previously reported.
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Digital → walk → speech
Fox News Digital reached out to the U.S. Mission for comment.
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Digital → reach → comment
America on trial, Trump dubbed a 'bully'
Pezeshkian used his speech to defend Iran’s conduct during the war and take aim at the United States and Israel.
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Pezeshkian → dub → States
"The United States using weapons with multiple warheads targeted that sports hall. …
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States → use → hall
They martyred, assassinated our scientists, our men, women and children," he said.
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he → martyr → scientists
"This is what the United States seeks to do with all countries — [to] sacrifice the population of a country in order to achieve [its] goals," Pezeshkian added.
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Pezeshkian → seek → goals
CENTCOM has denied that U.S. forces carried out the strike on the sports hall in Lamerd, saying American forces did not strike the city or anywhere within 30 miles of it on the opening day of Operation Epic Fury.
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forces → deny → Fury
Pezeshkian said that the U.S. and Israel have learned that Iran cannot be made to surrender, reiterating that Iran is "not afraid of fighting" and would defend the country "until our last breath."
During a moment of his speech, Pezeshkian held up props showing photos of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and Iranian schoolchildren killed during the beginning of the conflict.
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Pezeshkian → say → conflict
"Our innocent people have been the targets of cowardly attacks and aggressions imposed upon our country.
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people → impose → country
And we defended ourselves with utmost strength.
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we → defend → strength
America and Israel attacked us," Pezeshkian said.
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Pezeshkian → attack → us
He also used the opportunity to take shots at Trump, accusing him of "bullying" Iran.
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He → use → Iran
"More must be understood by Mr. Trump and those who seek to bully us, that we are ready for dialog and diplomacy and negotiations without accepting the language of force," Pezeshkian said.
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Pezeshkian → understand → force
Trump addressed leaders Tuesday and said he faced a "big decision" between reaching a deal with Iran or, in his words, "annihilat[ing] the Islamic Republic," before U.S. officials later met with Iranian officials.
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officials → address → officials
"Going back to the words of the president of the United States yesterday … everything uttered about our country was against the very essence and charter in the spirit of the United Nations," Pezeshkian said.
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Pezeshkian → go → Nations
"He must know that the resistance of the Iranian people will increase in the face of sanctions, and increased bullying, because all of us under law will never bow our head or bend at the knee."
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all → know → knee
Administration officials quickly pushed back on Pezeshkian’s attacks and disputed his account of the conflict.
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officials → push → conflict
"I think sponsoring terrorist organizations in the region to attack your neighbors, attack energy infrastructure, attack civilian sites is a violation of the UN system.
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sponsoring → think → system
So I don't know what's standing.
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what → know → ?
Iran has to lecture anyone on human rights or the international system.
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Iran → have → rights
When they habitually violate it," said Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
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Rubio → violate → State
Rubio added that Iran has no credibility defending the international order because its regime has repeatedly violated it.
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regime → add → it
"The Iranian regime has murdered thousands of its own people, killed Americans overseas, executed acts of terrorism in the Strait of Hormuz, and launched indiscriminate attacks against its neighbors in the region," White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly told Fox News Digital.
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Kelly → murder → Digital
"The President is courageously ensuring that such an evil country never possesses a nuclear weapon, which will make the entire world safer and more stable," she added.
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she → ensure → weapon
The Aporia
