SAEDNEWS: In a rare and provocative interview with American broadcaster Tucker Carlson, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused Israel of attempting to assassinate him and condemned the United States for enabling military strikes that obliterated fragile diplomatic efforts, casting new shadows over prospects for nuclear dialogue.
According to Saed News,
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian delivered a dramatic public indictment of Western foreign policy during a wide-ranging interview with Tucker Carlson, accusing Israel of launching a failed assassination attempt during the recent 12-day conflict and blaming U.S. actions for derailing nuclear negotiations.
Speaking candidly, Pezeshkian recalled that diplomatic talks with the United States were actively underway when Washington gave Tehran assurances that no military aggression would occur without its consent. “Mr. Carlson, we were sitting at the negotiating table. The President of the United States had invited us in the name of peace,” Pezeshkian said. “We were told explicitly that Israel would not act unless we gave permission. And yet—just before the sixth round of negotiations—they dropped a bomb on the table and destroyed diplomacy.”
The Iranian leader's comments refer to a reported Israeli strike that occurred during the final days of the 12-day war. Pezeshkian, citing intelligence from within Israeli military circles, claimed the attack specifically targeted his location in an effort to eliminate him. “Make no mistake,” he said, “this was an assassination attempt. And it failed.”
In the same interview, Pezeshkian voiced Tehran’s continued openness to nuclear oversight, insisting that Iran has never shied away from international inspections. “We are prepared to resume discussions and allow verification,” he said. “But after the U.S. strike on our nuclear infrastructure, many of our facilities are in ruins. Access is now limited.”
The president emphasized that trust remains the core issue. “How can we talk peace with one hand, and drop bombs with the other?” he asked pointedly. “If there is to be any return to negotiations, we must first rebuild the foundation of trust that has been shattered.”
Pezeshkian’s remarks mark one of the most unfiltered appearances by an Iranian head of state on a Western platform in years. Analysts suggest his decision to speak directly to a U.S. audience—through a conservative commentator with mass appeal like Carlson—signals both frustration and a strategic attempt to shift public perception.
The White House has not formally responded to Pezeshkian’s claims. Israeli officials have also remained tight-lipped, though military sources have neither confirmed nor denied targeting the Iranian president.
As tensions persist across the region, Pezeshkian’s interview casts a harsh light on the complex triad of Washington, Tehran, and Tel Aviv—and the volatile consequences when diplomacy is overtaken by airstrikes.
