Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran
Tehran, Jul 8: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has claimed that Israel attempted to assassinate him during last month’s 12-day war between the two nations. In an interview with American commentator Tucker Carlson, Pezeshkian accused Israeli forces of targeting a meeting he was attending, but said the plot failed.
“It was Israel, not the United States,” Pezeshkian asserted, alleging that the attack was an effort to disrupt Iran’s diplomatic momentum just days before crucial nuclear talks with the US.
The Israeli strikes on June 13 reportedly targeted top Iranian military officials and nuclear scientists, halting planned negotiations on Tehran’s atomic programme. The conflict left over 900 dead in Iran, while retaliatory drone and missile attacks killed 28 in Israel.
The war ended with a ceasefire on June 24. Days earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had refused to rule out the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with reports suggesting former US President Donald Trump had vetoed the plan.
Pezeshkian warned Washington against being dragged into what he called “Netanyahu’s war,” urging the US to resist being entangled in Middle East conflicts driven by Israeli interests.
“We see no problem in re-entering the nuclear negotiations,” he said, adding that trust must first be rebuilt and assurances given that no further attacks will take place during the dialogue.
Pezeshkian also welcomed US investments if sanctions are lifted, and advised President Trump to steer the region toward peace. “Mr. Trump is capable of guiding the region to peace—or being dragged into an endless swamp,” he said.