Iran president says Israel attempted to assassinate him
The Israeli attacks took place two days before Tehran and Washington were set to meet for a new round of nuclear talks, stalling negotiations that were aimed at reaching a deal over Iran's atomic program.
"They did try, yes. They acted accordingly, but they failed," Pezeshkian told US media figure Tucker Carlson in response to a question on whether he believed Israel had tried to kill him.
"It was not the United States that was behind the attempt on my life. It was Israel. I was in a meeting... they tried to bombard the area in which we were holding that meeting," he said according to a translation of his remarks from Persian, in apparent reference to an alleged assassination attempt during the recent war.
More than 900 people were killed in Iran during the conflict, according to the judiciary. The Israeli attacks drew waves of retaliatory drone and missile fire, killing 28 people in Israel, according to authorities.
'Forever wars'
The 12-day war between Iran and Israel saw it, along with the United States, launching strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz. A ceasefire between Iran and Israel took hold since June 24. On June 16, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not rule out plans to assassinate Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying it would "end the conflict" after reports emerged at the time that US President Donald Trump had vetoed the move.
During the interview with Carlson, Pezeshkian accused Netanyahu of pursuing his "own agenda" of "forever wars" in the Middle East, and urged the United States not to be dragged into it. "The US administration should refrain from getting involved in a war that is not America's war, it is Netanyahu's war," he said. He added that his country has "no problem" restarting nuclear talks, provided that trust can be reestablished between the two countries.
"We see no problem in re-entering the negotiations," the Iranian president said. "There is a condition ... for restarting the talks. How are we going to trust the United States again?"
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
France 24
6 hours ago
- France 24
US issues sanctions against UN investigator probing abuses in Gaza
02:03 09/07/2025 Signs of 'civil society awakening' amid ongoing ceasefire talks Middle East 09/07/2025 Hamas charter, writings, teachings reveal 'genocidal intent to destroy, dehumanise Israeli people' Middle East 08/07/2025 Israeli report accuses Hamas of using sexual violence as a weapon of war on Oct. 7 Middle East 08/07/2025 Following decades in Iran, 'there's nothing left' for millions of Afghan migrants in Afghanistan Middle East 07/07/2025 Iran: Concern grows as French teenager disappears during trip Middle East 07/07/2025 White House visit: 'For Netanyahu the issue is mostly about domestic politics, not Israeli security' Middle East 07/07/2025 'Netanyahu wants to perpetuate status quo: No agreement, no political framework, no Gaza withdrawal' Middle East 06/07/2025 Israel and Hamas delegations resume truce talks over Gaza in Doha Middle East 06/07/2025 Gaza ceasefire talks: Netanyahu confirms delegation will travel to Qatar Middle East
LeMonde
6 hours ago
- LeMonde
Hamas agrees to partial hostage release in 'difficult' truce talks
Hamas on Wednesday, July 9, said it would release 10 hostages as part of Gaza ceasefire talks after Israel struck an upbeat note about the prospects for a deal to stop the fighting in the embattled Palestinian territory. The Islamist group's statement came after four days of indirect talks brokered by Qatar and as the United States signalled its belief that an agreement for a 60-day truce would be struck before the end of the week. US special envoy Steve Witkoff said part of the deal would be the return of 10 living hostages held by militants since Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which sparked the war. Of 251 hostages seized during the assault on Israeli border communities near Gaza, 49 are still held in the territory, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead. Key hurdles remain, according to Hamas In its statement, Hamas said key hurdles remained in the talks, notably the free flow of aid into Gaza, Israeli military withdrawal from the territory and "real guarantees" for a lasting peace. But it added: "The movement displayed the required flexibility and agreed to release 10 prisoners (hostages). "Despite the difficulty of negotiations over these issues until now due to the intransigence of the occupation, we continue to work seriously and with a positive spirit with the mediators to overcome the hurdles and end the suffering of our people and ensure their aspirations to freedom, safety and a dignified life." Israel earlier appeared to fall in behind US President Donald Trump and his optimism for an end to the conflict, as the talks in Doha stretched into a fourth day with reported complaints on its stance on aid. Israeli army chief Eyal Zamir said in a televised address that military action had prepared the ground for a deal that would bring home the Israeli hostages. Netanyahu, who after talks with Trump in Washington on Tuesday night was still uncompromising in his determination to crush Hamas, said he believed an agreement was on the horizon. "I think we're getting closer to a deal," he told FOX Business Network's Mornings. "There's a good chance that we'll have it." Foreign Minister Gideon Saar also said he thought a temporary deal was "achievable" and could even herald talks for a more lasting peace, while President Isaac Herzog talked of "a historic opportunity" for change.
LeMonde
8 hours ago
- LeMonde
US sanctions UN rights expert Albanese over Gaza criticism
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday, July 9 announced Washington was sanctioning the United Nations special expert on the Palestinian territories, following her criticism of Washington policy on Gaza. "Today I am imposing sanctions on UN Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese for her illegitimate and shameful efforts to prompt (International Criminal Court) action against US and Israeli officials, companies, and executives," Rubio said on social media. In a subsequent statement he slammed the UN expert's strident criticism of the United States and said she recommended to the ICC that arrest warrants be issued targeting Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Rubio also attacked her for "biased and malicious activities," and accused her of having "spewed unabashed antisemitism (and) support for terrorism." He said she escalated her contempt for the United States by writing "threatening letters" to several US companies, making what Rubio called unfounded accusations and recommending the ICC pursue prosecutions of the companies and their executives. "We will not tolerate these campaigns of political and economic warfare, which threaten our national interests and sovereignty," Rubio said. While Albanese was appointed by the UN Human Rights Council, she does not speak on behalf of the United Nations itself. The Italy-born expert released a damning report earlier this month denouncing companies she said "profited from the Israeli economy of illegal occupation, apartheid, and now genocide" in the occupied Palestinian territories. The report provoked a furious response from Israel, while some of the named companies also raised objections. Albanese has leveled broadsides against the policies of Israel in Gaza, and of US President Donald Trump, particularly the plan he announced in February to take over the Gaza Strip and resettle its residents elsewhere. That proposal faced a rejection from Palestinians, Middle East leaders and the United Nations. Albanese dismissed it as "utter nonsense" and an "international crime" that will sow panic. "It's unlawful, immoral and... completely irresponsible because it will make the regional crisis even worse," she said on February 5 during a visit to Copenhagen. US ally Israel on Wednesday commended Rubio's action against the rapporteur. "Albanese has consistently undermined the credibility of the UN Human Rights Council by promoting false narratives and pushing for illegitimate legal actions that ignore the realities on the ground," Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon said.
