President Masoud Pezeshkian said the U.S. imposed the six-month conflict on Iran and warned Tehran would respond “strongly” if attacks continue. In a Fox News interview, he said Iran remains open to diplomacy and wants disputes settled through negotiations.
The remarks followed President Trump’s renewed threat of further destruction if no agreement is reached with the U.S. Pezeshkian denied Trump’s claim that Iran was waiting until after the fall midterm elections to make a deal. He accused Washington of seeking to destabilize the region and bring down Iran’s government.
Pezeshkian said Iran had never sought nuclear weapons, citing a religious ruling by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei; Iran’s uranium enrichment and nuclear program have faced long-term international scrutiny. He also said a U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding signed in June had fallen apart, but Tehran remained willing to move forward on its basis.
