Archive · 25 Sep 2026
Iran Skips Netanyahu's UN Speech, Leaves Soleimani Portrait Behind
Iran's representatives did not sit in the room when Israel's prime minister spoke at the United Nations.
Instead, they left a picture of Qasem Soleimani on their empty desk.
Soleimani was a senior Iranian military commander who led the Quds Force.
He was killed in a United States drone strike near Baghdad in 2020.
The portrait was meant as a strong symbolic statement.
Many other diplomats also left the room when Benjamin Netanyahu began speaking.
Some people in the hall booed him, while his team applauded.
Netanyahu criticized Iran's leaders and defended Israel's actions against Iran.
He said Israel wanted to stop Iran from making nuclear weapons.
Iranian diplomats were absent during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to the 81st UN General Assembly.
A portrait of former Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani was placed on Iran's otherwise empty delegation desk.
The gesture came as dozens of diplomats walked out, while some delegates jeered and booed Netanyahu.
Netanyahu called Iran's leadership a "murderous dictatorship" and defended Israel's military campaign against Tehran.
Netanyahu said Israel acted to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, which he described as a threat to Israel and the wider world.
- Who
- Iran's UN delegation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Qasem Soleimani, and other international diplomats.
- What
- Iran skipped Netanyahu's speech and left Soleimani's portrait on its empty desk during the UN General Assembly.
- When
- Thursday, September 25, 2026, during the 81st UN General Assembly.
- Where
- The United Nations General Assembly in New York.
- Why
- The portrait served as a symbolic protest during Netanyahu's address, in which he criticized Iran and defended Israel's military campaign.
Iran and Netanyahu's Critics
Israel and Netanyahu
Response to the speech
Iran and Netanyahu's Critics
Iran's delegation skipped the speech and left Soleimani's portrait as a symbolic protest; other diplomats also walked out or jeered.
Israel and Netanyahu
Netanyahu criticized those who left, calling them "moral cowards," while members of his team applauded.
Iran's nuclear program
Iran and Netanyahu's Critics
The article describes Iran as the target of Netanyahu's criticism and military campaign but does not provide an Iranian response to his nuclear-weapons claims.
Israel and Netanyahu
Netanyahu said Israel's military campaign was intended to stop Iran's leadership from developing nuclear weapons, which he said would threaten Israel and the wider world.
- Event
- Iranian diplomats were absent during Netanyahu's UN address.
- Symbolic gesture
- A portrait of Qasem Soleimani was placed on Iran's reserved desk.
- Assembly
- The speech took place during the 81st UN General Assembly.
- Other protests
- Dozens of diplomats walked out, while some delegates jeered and booed.
- Netanyahu's claim
- He said Israel acted to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
- Soleimani's death
- He was killed on January 3, 2020, in a US drone strike near Baghdad airport.
- Soleimani's role
- He led Iran's Quds Force from 1998 until his death.