In an interview released Sunday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told former Fox News host Tucker Carlson that Israel attempted to assassinate him, marking a dramatic new chapter in the already volatile tensions between Iran, Israel, and the United States.

Speaking to Carlson from Tehran, Pezeshkian claimed, “They did try, yes,” when asked directly whether Israel had attempted to kill him. “They acted accordingly, but they failed.”

The interview marks the first time Pezeshkian has spoken to a Western journalist since his election earlier this year and comes just weeks after a 12-day exchange of strikes between Iran and Israel, including Israeli airstrikes deep into Iranian territory targeting military sites and nuclear-linked personnel.

The interview, posted on Carlson’s independent media platform, did not touch on Iran’s nuclear program or human rights record, but instead focused on questions about war, trust, and the future of diplomacy. When asked if Iran seeks war with the United States or Israel, Pezeshkian said that it is not “in the interest of the United States to be involved in any kind of war in my region.”

He emphasized that Iran is open to resuming nuclear talks but added that trust had been badly damaged by the Trump administration’s 2018 withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and continued US support for Israeli military operations. 

Last month, Israel initiated a series of intense airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, most notably at Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan, reportedly destroying above‑ground infrastructure and eliminating dozens of scientists. Shortly after, the US entered the fray under “Operation Midnight Hammer,” deploying B‑2 stealth bombers and submarine‑launched Tomahawk missiles to strike the same three sites in a coordinated effort with Israel on June 22.

The operations came amid fears from the US and international intelligence agencies that Tehran had rapidly advanced its nuclear enrichment program, bringing it dangerously close to weapons-grade capability. Since the collapse of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, Iran had steadily increased its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, operating advanced centrifuges in defiance of international limits. As of the latest IAEA reports prior to the recent war, Iran possessed enough enriched material to produce multiple nuclear weapons had they chosen to further refine it.

Carlson, who has previously interviewed controversial figures such as Russian President Vladimir Putin and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, offered a platform that was largely non-confrontational, focusing on eliciting Pezeshkian’s views rather than challenging them. This approach drew immediate criticism from analysts and rights advocates, who accused Carlson of giving an authoritarian regime unfiltered airtime. 

The interview represents a strategic media move by Iran. Pezeshkian’s decision to speak with Carlson, who retains a large conservative audience in the US despite his departure from Fox, appears to be an effort to bypass traditional diplomatic channels and communicate directly with American viewers. Iranian state media quickly broadcast subtitled clips of the interview, using Pezeshkian’s comments to frame Iran as reasonable and under threat.

US officials have not yet publicly responded to the interview or the assassination allegation. The State Department declined CNN’s request for comment. However, the timing of the interview and its substance may complicate an already fragile diplomatic landscape. With the Trump administration under pressure to manage growing instability in the Middle East, Pezeshkian’s remarks could potentially deepen distrust between the US and Tehran. 

Carlson’s interview with Iran’s president has reignited criticism from some conservative commentators and political figures, who accuse him of promoting anti-Israel sentiment and aligning too closely with America’s geopolitical adversaries. Critics point to Carlson’s recent rhetoric questioning US support for Israel and his willingness to offer uncritical platforms to leaders like Vladimir Putin and now Masoud Pezeshkian. For some on the right, this represents a departure from traditional conservative foreign policy views that strongly support Israel and take a hard line on adversarial regimes. The backlash underscores growing fractures within the conservative movement over nationalism, non-interventionism, and America’s role abroad.

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