In rising tensions in the Middle East as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian makes serious allegations against Israel, accusing the country of launching an assassination attempt on his life and derailing diplomatic efforts with the United States.
In a high-profile interview released Monday with conservative American podcaster Tucker Carlson, President Pezeshkian claimed that Israel had attempted to kill him during a wave of strikes that began on June 13, sparking a 12-day air conflict between Iran and Israel.
“They did try, yes,” Pezeshkian said during the interview. “They acted accordingly, but they failed.”
Israel has yet to officially respond to these accusations. However, last month a senior Israeli Defense Force official stated that more than 30 high-ranking Iranian security officials and 11 senior nuclear scientists were killed in Israeli operations targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities.
President Pezeshkian holds Israel responsible not only for the attempted assassination but also for the collapse of ongoing diplomatic talks, which he said were underway just before the airstrikes began.
“How can we trust the United States again?” he asked. “How do we know that, mid-negotiation, Israel won’t be allowed to strike once more?”
Despite his skepticism, the Iranian leader said he remains hopeful that U.S.-Iran relations could be repaired through dialogue—but only if trust can be reestablished.
Turning his attention to Washington, Pezeshkian made a direct appeal to U.S. President Donald Trump, who is meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House this week. Pezeshkian urged Trump not to be drawn into further conflict.
“President Trump is capable of steering the region toward peace and putting Israel in check,” he said. “Or, he can lead us all into a swamp — a dark, endless conflict. The choice is his.”
In response, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said she was unsure whether President Trump had seen Pezeshkian’s remarks, but agreed that Trump is the right leader to move the region toward a more peaceful future.
Meanwhile, President Trump expressed confidence in recent U.S. military strikes against Iranian nuclear sites, calling them a “tremendous success.” He told reporters that he believes Iran’s nuclear ambitions have been permanently disrupted, although he acknowledged the possibility that Iran might shift its operations elsewhere.
Tehran, for its part, has consistently denied pursuing nuclear weapons.
We will continue to monitor this developing story and bring you updates as they unfold. Stay with SNEWS TV for the latest on global diplomacy, defense, and regional affairs.
Reporting by Carl Montel.
