Read the full transcript of President of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian’s interview on The Tucker Carlson Show, premiered July 7, 2025.
Iran’s Position on War and Peace
TUCKER CARLSON: Mr. President, thank you very much for doing this. There is a pause, or seems to be a pause, in the war between the United States and Iran. How do you think this will end? How would you like to see it end?
MASOUD PEZESHKIAN: We did not start this war, and we do not want this war to continue in any way. From the very beginning, it was the motto of my administration that I always adhere to, and that was fostering the national unity inside the country and also fostering peace and tranquility and friendship with the neighboring countries and with the rest of the world.
Nuclear Program Allegations and Iran’s Response
TUCKER CARLSON: The American President, Donald Trump, has said that the United States bombed your enrichment facilities because the government of Iran refused to give up its nuclear program and that there can be no peace until Iran does give up that nuclear program. Would you be willing to give up the nuclear program in exchange for peace?
MASOUD PEZESHKIAN: I would like to tell you what has happened. And it was Netanyahu, since 1984, has created this false mentality that Iran seeks a nuclear bomb. And it has insinuated that Iran is trying to develop a nuclear bomb in the past, and it has put it in the minds of every US President since then and to make them believe that we would like to have a nuclear bomb.
But the truth is that we have never been after developing a nuclear bomb, not in the past, not presently or in the future, because this is wrong. And this is in contrast to the religious decree or the fatwa which has been issued by His Eminence, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. So it is religiously forbidden for us to go after a nuclear bomb.
And this was always corroborated, thanks to our cooperation with IAEA, because they were always there to verify this and to substantiate that. We have never wanted a nuclear bomb. But unfortunately, this cooperation was disturbed by the unlawful attacks against our nuclear facilities.
IAEA Cooperation and Verification
TUCKER CARLSON: So you have, according to news reports, withdrawn your cooperation from IAEA, the International Nuclear Regulatory Agency. And so there’s, I suppose, no way for the rest of the world to know how much uranium you’re enriching and to what extent, to what percentage it’s being enriched. And so is there any way to verify, and would you be willing to allow other nations to verify that you are not building nuclear weapons?
MASOUD PEZESHKIAN: Mr. Carlson, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that we were right in the middle of holding talks with the United States, and the President of the United States invited us to hold such talks in order to have peace. And we were told during the process of these negotiations and talks that as long as we don’t give the permission to Israel, they are not going to attack you.
And we were going to have the next round of the talks very soon, but in the middle of it, suddenly Israel torpedoed the negotiating table. We were sitting at the negotiating table when it happened. And by doing this, they totally ruined and destroyed diplomacy.
And in order to answer your question with regards to the surveillance or the supervision over our nuclear program, I would like to say that we are ready to hold talks over it. We have never been the party that has run away from verification. We stand ready to have these supervisions.
But unfortunately, as a result of the United States unlawful attacks against our nuclear centers and installations, many of the pieces of equipment and the facilities there have been severely damaged. Therefore, we don’t have any access to them. We cannot see. And unless this access is going to be back there again, we have to wait for it and to see what happens and how much they have been damaged so that we can go for the supervision.
IAEA Intelligence Concerns
TUCKER CARLSON: There have been news reports that you believe your government believes that the IAEA was spying on the government of Iran and passing information to Israel. Do you believe that? And if so, do you have evidence that that’s true that the world could see?
MASOUD PEZESHKIAN: I would like to tell you that we were, yes, somehow pessimistic about the activities of the IAEA, because somehow we realized that Israel could get information from the inspections which were carried out by the IAEA, but it never prevented the IAEA from carrying out their activities inside Iran. And they had full access to supervise and to have surveillance over our nuclear facilities.
But there was this lack of trust as a result of the last report by IAEA. The type of the report and the way they prepared the report somehow gave an excuse to the Israeli regime and prepared the ground for their unlawful and unauthorized attack against our nuclear facilities. And even after that, the IAEA failed to condemn these attacks or try to anyway to stop them. And this ran counter to the international law. And this resulted in a widespread lack of trust among the Iranians, Iranian legislators, and the public opinion here.
Diplomatic Solutions and Peace Framework
TUCKER CARLSON: You’ve suggested that you were anxious to resolve your conflicts with the United States through diplomacy and that that was derailed by war. Would you be willing to restart diplomacy and could you tell us in general but precise terms the kind of deal you would be willing to accept?
MASOUD PEZESHKIAN: You see, I am of the belief that we could very much easily resolve our differences and conflicts with the United States through dialogue and talks.
And, you know, the international law would serve as the framework or the basis for a deal in which the rights of all nations, Iranian nation, would be respected.
But unfortunately, it was Netanyahu that destroyed these diplomacy and these efforts, diplomatic efforts. We have always, we never wanted anything beyond respect for our rights, rightful rights enshrined in international law. But as I said, it was Netanyahu that wanted, that brought unrest to our region and is fomenting unrest and tension, tensions in the region.
As I have always said, we have always been after peace. It has been my motto, it has been my belief, it has been my heartfelt opinion that we need to live in peace and harmony during this short and limited time granted to us by God Almighty, to live in peace and tranquility with everybody. And everybody in the world should live like that.
But I would also like, on the other hand, to reiterate that our people are capable enough to defend themselves in self defense during any kind of attack. And I believe that the United States President can very well guide the region and the world to peace and tranquility. Or on the other hand, to lead it to forever wars.
Future Negotiations and Trust Issues
TUCKER CARLSON: Do you have plans to re-enter negotiations with the United States with envoy Steve Witkoff or anyone else? And if not, what do you think will happen?
MASOUD PEZESHKIAN: We see no problem in reentering the negotiations. But before that, I have to remind you that because of the atrocities by the Zionist regime, by Israel, not just against my country, but in the whole region, we are now facing a crisis, that the people are facing a crisis that we need to put it behind ourselves.
Our commanders were off duty. They were spending the night at their homes with their families. But they were killed. And this is a war crime according to the international law, because they were off duty, as I said. Or our scientists were also killed and assassinated, along with their families and their wives and their children. They were also killed, pregnant women, children. They were killed in the atrocities, in the attacks of the Israeli regime.
Just because they wanted to kill one single person, they had to demolish and destroy a whole building. And as a result of this, a lot of innocent people were killed. A lot of people were killed. And as I said, there is this crisis that we have to put it behind ourselves.
And there is a condition, there is a provision for the restarting the talks. How are we going to trust the United States again? We reenter the negotiations, then how can we know for sure that in the middle of the talks the Israeli regime will not be given the permission again to attack us?
Assassination Attempts and Personal Security
TUCKER CARLSON: Do you believe the Israeli government tried to assassinate you?
MASOUD PEZESHKIAN: They did try, yes. And they acted accordingly. But they failed. And as a true believer, I believe that it is in the hands of the God Almighty to determine when a person will die or will not die. If he wills, the God Almighty wills, then you can die when you are walking freely in the streets.
But I would like to tell you that I am not afraid of sacrificing myself in defense of my country and in safeguarding and defending the sovereignty, the freedom and the independence of my country. I’m willing to give my life to give blood for that. And nobody here, I mean, none of the government officials, afraid of losing their lives in line of defense. But will it bring security to the region? I mean, bloodshed, more bloodshed, assassination, killing others. Will it bring peace and tranquility and stability to the region?
TUCKER CARLSON: With respect, can you tell us how you know that you were an assassination target a week and a half ago? I don’t believe I’ve seen that confirmed anywhere. How are you certain they tried to kill you?
MASOUD PEZESHKIAN: Of course, it was not the US that was behind the attempt on my life. It was Israel. I was in a meeting. We were discussing the ways to move forward. But thanks to the intelligence by the spies that they had, they tried to bombard the area that we were holding that meeting in which we were holding that meeting.
But as I told you before, it is God who wills when a person will die and give up his life. And once again, I would like to emphasize that we are not afraid of martyrdom. We are not afraid of sacrificing our lives for our people, for our independence.
And I would like to tell you that this imposed war by the Israeli regime resulted in one thing, and that was more solidarity and unity amongst the Iranian people. And it proved yet once again that the Iranian people, no matter where they are in the whole wide world, they do care about their country, about the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of their motherland. And as I said, this brought about more solidarity and it united us further thanks to this act of aggression by the Israeli regime.
My proposal is that the US Administration should refrain from getting involved in a war that is not its war, that is not America’s war. It is Netanyahu’s war that is having its devilish machinations for the whole region. It has its own agenda. He has its own agenda, Netanyahu, I mean, inhuman agenda. And that is having forever wars, wars that go on and on and on. And this is my proposal to the United States. Not to be fooled by Netanyahu, not to be dragged into this kind of war.
American Perceptions and “Death to America” Chants
TUCKER CARLSON: Many Americans are afraid of Iran. You say you’re not afraid, but Americans are afraid of Iran. And they believe that Iran would like to strike the United States with a nuclear weapon. They see video of Iranians saying “death to America,” describing our country as the Great Satan. What is your opinion of that? Should we be afraid of Iran?
MASOUD PEZESHKIAN: I believe that this is a very wrong impression that anybody might have of Iran or the Iranians. I would like to remind you that Iran has never invaded another country in the last 200 years.
When they say “death to the United States,” it doesn’t mean death to – they don’t mean death to the people of the United States or even to officials of the United States. They mean death to crimes, death to killing and carnage, death to supporting killing others, death to insecurity and instability.
Have you ever heard that Iranian killing an American? Have you ever heard that? Or a terrorist that was Iranian and he carried out a terrorist attack against the Americans? No. It was your president who confessed that the Americans created ISIS in our region and they were responsible for this wrong image that is portrayed of religion or the Muslims in the world.
And once again, I would like to tell you and remind you that this is not death to the American people or to the officials. Death to crimes and atrocities, to bullying, to the use of force, and anybody who would like to become an accomplice in the crimes perpetrated by others.
Religious Fatwas and Donald Trump
TUCKER CARLSON: Two Iranian ayatollahs have issued fatwas against Donald Trump. What does that mean exactly and what do you think of it?
MASOUD PEZESHKIAN: To the best of my knowledge, they have not issued decrees or fatwas against any individual or against Donald Trump. And first off, it has nothing to do with the Iranian government or to His Eminence, the Supreme Leader of Iran, or what they actually meant by the fatwa was the in condemnation of an insult to a religion or religious personnel. And they were actually saying that this is deplorable, this is unacceptable.
So it was not directed towards the US President or any other individual. And there might be people with their own ideas and opinions, but I can assure you that the meaning of this fatwa should not be construed or considered as a threat against an individual.
TUCKER CARLSON: Has Iran ever backed an assassination attempt against Donald Trump?
Iran’s Response to Regional Tensions
MASOUD PEZESHKIAN: This is actually what Netanyahu is trying to insinuate and to make your people or the president of your country believe. But this is wrong because Netanyahu, as I said, has its own agenda. It wants to drag the US into forever wars, as I said, and to bring more insecurity, instability and unrest to the whole region.
TUCKER CARLSON: There are a number, some large number of Iranian nationals living in the United States. Some have said they are, quote, “sleeper cells,” they are terrorists who are acting at the command of your government. Would you right now make a statement to Iranian citizens living in the United States not to commit acts of violence in the United States?
MASOUD PEZESHKIAN: You see these things? You’re telling me it’s the first time I’m hearing them from you or from anybody. You know, Iranians are known for their knowledge, for their science, for their courtesy, for being civilized. Have you seen otherwise from them? Any other kind of behavior from them? Or any violent behavior? Has anybody ever seen anything from them?
As I said, this is what Israel is trying to put into your minds. You’re propagating that Iranians might be capable of doing such a thing. But this is totally untrue because by nature, Iranians are pro peace and tranquility and they’re trying to actually make, to somehow impact the minds of the decision makers and the people of the United States and to scare them into getting involved in a war in my region that is not going to ensure any kind of interest for the United States. It is not to be in the interests of the United States to be involved in any kind of war in my region.
Historical Iran-Israel Relations
TUCKER CARLSON: It wasn’t that long ago. It was during the revolutionary period in Iran that Iran had relations with Israel and commercial relations with Israel, reputedly bought weapons from Israel. What happened? How did that change? Who changed it and why that relationship?
MASOUD PEZESHKIAN: You know, Israel itself is to blame because just look at what they have been doing in the last couple of years in Palestine, in Gaza, what Netanyahu has been doing, killing women and children, bombing schools and hospitals and civilian and residential areas. Nothing short of a full scale genocide there. They have blocked the entry of food and medicine, any kind of humanitarian relief to Gaza.
So this has adversely impacted the way my country and the whole region looks at Israel. And this, I mean, their own behavior and their own actions are to blame because this is unacceptable, what they have been doing in my region. And as far as I know, we have never received any kind of weapon from Israel. And I would like to tell you, even at that time, we did not want to have weapons, we did not want to have wars, we did not want to fight the Iraqis. It was the war that was imposed on us. And just like the way that this war was imposed on us by the Israeli regime, we did not attack Israel. They attacked us.
Future US-Iran Relations
TUCKER CARLSON: Can you imagine at the end of the diplomatic exchange with the United States, a world in which American companies invest again in Iran, sanctions are lifted, there is peace in the region. Is that your goal? And do you think it’s possible?
MASOUD PEZESHKIAN: You know, from the very beginning of my administration, I first tried to have the domestic solidarity and unity, further unity amongst Iranian people. Then we tried to have better relations with our neighboring, with our neighbors, neighboring countries of Iran.
And then I had this talk with His Eminence, the Supreme Leader of Iran. And during which His Eminence emphasized that there is no limitation and there is nothing preventing the US Investors to come to Iran and to make investments in Iran even presently. And there has never been any limitation, anything barring them from coming into Iran. And this is the belief of the Supreme Leader of Iran.
But once again, I would like to tell you that it is Israel that does not want such things to happen in the region. Israel does not want to see peace and tranquility in the region. But I would like to once again repeat that the United States President, Mr. Trump, he’s capable enough to guide the region towards peace and a brighter future and put Israel in its place or get into a pit, an endless pit or a swamp. And that is a war that Netanyahu wants the United States or the US President to be dragged into.
So it is up to the United States President to choose which path that I told you about. And as I told you, there is nothing preventing the commercial or industrial or economic activities by the US Business people and investors. And of course, if there was a limitation, it was caused by the US sanctions, not by us.
Iran’s Defense Capabilities and Alliances
TUCKER CARLSON: Mr. President, my final question, if we wind up in a broader war, could Iran could use. You expect assistance from Russia and China, military and economic assistance from your allies, Russia and China.
MASOUD PEZESHKIAN: We have always put our trust in God and in God we trust. And we are capable enough to defend ourselves and to stand on our own two feet and to defend our country, our territorial integrity to the last drop of our blood.
As I have said again and again, we don’t want wars. We don’t want to develop a nuclear weapon. And this false image, this wrong mentality created in the minds of the US Decision makers and officials is because of the devilish machinations instigated by Netanyahu and the Israeli regime and its policies based on war mongering.
And the US President should know that another war will only spread more instability in the Middle East. And it is not going to be in the interests or in favor of the US President or the US Government to move in that or towards that direction. They instead need to choose peace and tranquility, which is something that I am and my government and my country are after.
And as I said, I believe that the US President is powerful enough to put Israel, Netanyahu in their place, to contain them and replace warmongering, bloodshed and conflicts with peace and tranquility.
TUCKER CARLSON: Mr. President, thank you for taking the time to explain your perspective. Appreciate it.
MASOUD PEZESHKIAN: Thank you very much for providing me with an opportunity to tell you about what is going on in my mind and in my heart. And I hope that peace and tranquility will prevail, not just for the people of the United States, for the US Officials, but for the whole world and especially the people of my region. And thank you again.
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