Iran’s President: “Israel Tried to Assassinate Me” | WATCH

In his first public interview since the outbreak of war, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian revealed that Israel attempted to assassinate him, while acknowledging that Israeli airstrikes had caused “severe damage” to Iran’s nuclear facilities, leaving them inaccessible.

The interview, published Monday by controversial American commentator Tucker Carlson, marks Pezeshkian’s first major appearance since taking office. Carlson, known for his anti-Israel stance, provided the Iranian leader with a sympathetic platform.

Pezeshkian opened with familiar talking points: “We didn’t start this war, and we do not wish for it to continue,” he claimed, emphasizing Iran’s supposed commitment to unity, peace, and “friendly relations with neighboring countries.”

On Iran’s nuclear program, Pezeshkian insisted, despite overwhelming evidence, that Tehran has never sought nuclear weapons. “It is forbidden,” he said, citing a religious fatwa issued by Iran’s Supreme Leader. “Our cooperation with the IAEA has always been transparent,” he added.

But later in the interview, he admitted that international oversight had been compromised due to “illegal attacks” on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. “Much of the equipment and facilities have been severely damaged. We no longer have access to them,” he said.

He further suggested that Israel had gained intelligence through IAEA inspections, leading to what he called a “biased” report that gave Israel pretext for strikes. “The IAEA failed to condemn the attacks or act to prevent them,” he charged, accusing the agency of violating international law and fueling public distrust in Iran.

The most dramatic moment came when Pezeshkian disclosed that he himself had been targeted in an Israeli strike:

“About a week and a half ago, Israel tried to bomb the area where I was holding a meeting,” he said, adding that Israel had also “murdered scientists, commanders, even their wives and children.” He called these acts “war crimes under international law.”

Pezeshkian also blamed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for derailing diplomacy. He claimed Iran had been in negotiations with the U.S. when Israel “sabotaged the talks and collapsed the table.”

“It was Netanyahu who destroyed diplomacy and fueled instability in our region,” he said, calling the Israeli leader “a source of chaos and conspiracy.”

When asked about chants of “Death to America” and “The Great Satan,” Pezeshkian called it a “huge misunderstanding.” According to him, such slogans refer only to “death to crimes and injustice,” not Americans themselves.

“Iran hasn’t invaded any country in 200 years,” he added, “nor has any Iranian killed Americans.”

He urged the U.S. to “stay out of a war that is not theirs,” calling it “Netanyahu’s war, a wicked scheme harming the whole region.” Pezeshkian argued that President Trump has the strength to “restrain Israel and set boundaries for Netanyahu.”

Finally, the Iranian president made an open call for American business investment, while conveniently blaming U.S. sanctions for economic isolation.

“The Supreme Leader made clear, there are absolutely no restrictions. American investors are welcome, even now,” he said. “If there’s a limitation, it’s not from us, it’s from your sanctions.”