SAEDNEWS: In a striking interview with American journalist Tucker Carlson, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused the United States of betraying diplomatic efforts by allowing Israeli and American strikes to derail nuclear talks, saying Tehran now finds it “difficult to trust” Washington again.
According to Saed News, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has delivered a sobering assessment of the state of Iran-U.S. relations following a devastating twelve-day war with Israel, warning that Tehran’s faith in American diplomacy has been severely damaged. In a rare interview with American broadcaster Tucker Carlson, Pezeshkian detailed how U.S.-backed negotiations were undercut by military action — first by Israel, then by the United States itself.
“We were at the negotiating table. We were in talks; the U.S. President had asked us to engage in talks to establish peace,” Pezeshkian said. “During those talks, we were told that without U.S. permission, Israel would not launch any attacks. Yet, just before the sixth round — while we were still negotiating — Netanyahu practically dropped a bomb on the negotiating table and destroyed diplomacy.”
Pezeshkian, who assumed office in the summer of 2024 with a promise to renew dialogue with the West, has faced mounting criticism at home since the outbreak of hostilities in June. Iran and the U.S. had resumed indirect negotiations in April 2025 to resolve longstanding tensions surrounding Tehran’s nuclear programme. But just days before the sixth round was scheduled, Israel launched a series of airstrikes inside Iran, targeting nuclear infrastructure, military installations, and civilian areas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later admitted to informing U.S. President Donald Trump of the planned assault in advance.
On June 22, Trump himself ordered strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in Natanz, Esfahan, and Fordow — a move that plunged the region into open conflict and shattered hopes of diplomatic progress. “We have no problem with negotiation, but we need to be able to trust the U.S. again,” Pezeshkian told Carlson. “Israel must not be allowed to attack again right in the middle of talks and ignite a new war.”
Domestically, the war has intensified political divisions, with critics accusing the United States of exploiting the diplomatic process as a cover for military escalation. Iran has since suspended cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, citing bias and complicity. Pezeshkian accused the UN nuclear watchdog of failing to uphold its obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
“The agency’s latest report gave Israel a pretext to launch illegal attacks on our nuclear sites,” he said. “Regrettably, the IAEA did not even condemn this attack on facilities under its own oversight. From the standpoint of international law, this is unacceptable and has caused serious distrust among our people and lawmakers toward the agency.”
Despite calls for regional alliances, Pezeshkian insisted that Iran is capable of defending itself without military assistance from Russia or China. “Iran is ready to defend itself,” he declared. “We do not need help to repel aggression.”
As tensions remain high, Pezeshkian’s remarks mark a pivotal moment in the breakdown of a fragile diplomatic process — one that many now fear may not recover.
