UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Iran’s president told the U.N. General Assembly Thursday that moderate leaders in the Middle East must spearhead the fight against extremists, warning that their goal of destroying civilization is generating anti-Muslim hatred and creating fertile ground for further intervention of foreign forces in the region.

Hassan Rouhani said leaders who are neither anti- nor pro-Western and know “the pain” the region is experiencing can win the confidence of people in their countries “and establish the strongest national and international coalitions against violence.”