Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said he believes the tensions between Tehran and Washington could be resolved through direct talks, but he warned that trust in the United States has eroded after recent military actions involving Israel.
Speaking with conservative American commentator Tucker Carlson in an interview recorded Saturday and released Monday, Pezeshkian said the region is at a crossroads. Peace is possible, he said, but only if Washington avoids being drawn deeper into conflict.
“I am of the belief that we could very much easily resolve our differences and conflicts with the United States through dialogue and talks,” Pezeshkian told Carlson.
The timing of the interview follows a 12-day U.S.-Israel joint offensive targeting Iranian nuclear sites and security infrastructure. According to Tehran, the strikes killed multiple high-ranking officials, including nuclear scientists.
Pezeshkian accused Israel of sabotaging ongoing negotiations. He claimed that discussions were making progress until June 13, when airstrikes began. Now, he questions whether future talks can be trusted.
“How are we going to trust the United States again?” he said. “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?”
The Iranian leader also made a direct appeal to Donald Trump, who he said had the choice between escalation and diplomacy.
“The United States’ president, Mr. Trump, he is capable enough to guide the region towards the peace and a brighter future and put Israel in its place. Or get into a pit, an endless pit, or a swamp,” Pezeshkian said.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to the interview by saying she wasn’t sure whether Trump had seen it, but she echoed the idea that the former president was well-positioned to lead the region toward a peaceful outcome.
During the interview, Pezeshkian also alleged that Israel attempted to assassinate him, saying, “They did try, yes. They acted accordingly, but they failed.” Israel has not officially commented on the accusation.
Last month, an unnamed Israeli military official told reporters that over 30 senior Iranian security figures and 11 nuclear scientists had been targeted in recent operations against Tehran’s nuclear capabilities.
President Trump, speaking Friday, said the joint strikes had successfully set back Iran’s nuclear program. He added that while Iran could attempt to resume development elsewhere, the damage done was substantial.
Iran has repeatedly denied that it is seeking to build nuclear weapons.
As of now, no formal talks are on the calendar between the U.S. and Iran—and it’s uncertain whether leaders on both sides are willing to move forward.
