Israel Tried To Assassinate Me, Alleges Iranian President

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has accused Israel of planning an assassination attempt against him during the 12-day conflict between the two countries.

Speaking during an interview with U.S. journalist Tucker Carlson, aired on Monday, Pezeshkian accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of derailing peace talks with the United States by launching a strike that he claims targeted a meeting he was attending.

“It was not the United States; it was Israel,” Pezeshkian said via a translator.

“I was in a meeting, and they tried to bombard the area where that meeting was taking place,” he added.

According to the Iranian leader, the incident occurred in the midst of sensitive negotiations with the U.S. government.

Pezeshkian claimed those talks were halted after Israel allegedly intervened.

“President Trump had invited us for talks. We were told that as long as we didn’t engage Israel, there would be no aggression. But before the next round could happen, Israel flipped the table,” he said.

He also dismissed widespread allegations about Iran’s nuclear intentions, asserting that Iran has never pursued atomic weapons.

“We have never sought the bomb—past, present, or future,” he stated, citing religious rulings by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei that prohibit nuclear armament.

Pezeshkian blamed Netanyahu for perpetuating what he called a “myth” since 1984 that Iran aims to build a nuclear arsenal.

Responding to reports of chants like “Death to America” at Iranian rallies, Pezeshkian said the phrase is symbolic.

“It means death to oppression, death to war crimes—not the American people,” he explained.

The president also denied any Iranian involvement in purported plots to harm former U.S. President Donald Trump.

“Netanyahu wants your people and your president to believe we’re behind it. But it’s not true,” Pezeshkian said.

He addressed Iran’s withdrawal from cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), suggesting Israeli intelligence had gained access to inspection information, which allegedly led to the bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities.

“We found out the IAEA reports were used by Israel as justification for illegal strikes. When the agency failed to condemn those actions, trust among Iranian lawmakers collapsed,” he said.

On the issue of supposed “sleeper cells” within the United States, Pezeshkian responded with surprise.

“This is the first time I’m hearing this. Iranians are educated, peaceful people. We’re known for our manners, not violence,” he said, adding that such narratives are being “planted” by Israel to stoke fear.

He also dismissed reports that a religious decree, or fatwa, was issued against Trump by Iran.

“To my knowledge, no such fatwa exists. What was issued was a condemnation of religious insults, not a call to action,” Pezeshkian said.

Tucker Carlson defended his decision to air the interview, saying it was vital for Americans to hear directly from the Iranian president.

“We’ll be criticised for doing this, but citizens have the right to know what’s being done in their name and with their money,” Carlson said.

He noted that he avoided questions that would likely receive scripted denials, such as whether U.S. forces had destroyed parts of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure in “Operation Midnight Hammer” and instead focused on clarifying Iran’s intentions toward both the U.S. and Israel.

Carlson revealed he had submitted multiple requests to interview Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu but had not received a response.

Meanwhile, Iranian state-linked platforms have reportedly circulated calls for retribution against Trump, including an $18m bounty, raising further concerns in the U.S. and Israel about the potential for escalation.

Though Pezeshkian distanced the Iranian government from such efforts, Western intelligence agencies caution that regime-aligned factions may be operating under plausible deniability, further complicating an already volatile regional picture.

Although Pezeshkian said the Iranian government is not involved, Western intelligence agencies warn that groups connected to the regime might still be behind these efforts while pretending not to be.