Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran did not choose war and would not initiate one, but would defend itself with strength if attacked. In an interview with Fox News during his visit to New York for the 81st UN General Assembly, the Iranian president said pressure aimed at forcing Iran to surrender outside international law would not succeed. He stressed that disputes should be resolved through dialogue rather than military action.
President Pezeshkian said Iran’s demands in negotiations with the United States were limited to its rights under international law and the framework previously agreed upon. Referring to talks involving US negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, he said Iran was prepared to continue within the agreed framework if the other side accepted it. He also said misunderstandings over implementation had escalated into confrontation instead of being resolved through negotiations.
Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, President Pezeshkian said Iran had not closed the waterway and questioned why the United States was preventing Iranian ships from passing through it. He argued that freedom of navigation should apply equally and said the issue had contributed to tensions surrounding the previous understanding.
On Iran’s nuclear program, President Pezeshkian said Tehran was not seeking nuclear weapons and was ready for verification within the framework of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). He said Iran had been prepared to dilute its 60-percent enriched uranium stockpile before the conflict and criticized the US attack on Iranian nuclear facilities that were under international monitoring.
Addressing regional armed groups, President Pezeshkian said Iran had no command relationship with resistance groups and rejected allegations that Tehran sought to finance or direct regional wars. He said Iran’s position was that aggression and attacks against people in the region should stop, adding that any humanitarian assistance would be intended to help civilians rather than encourage fighting.
On domestic unrest, President Pezeshkian disputed figures cited by foreign media regarding casualties during the January events, saying Iran had published names and national identification numbers of those killed. He said the government was prepared to allow verification and acknowledged that the authorities had apologized over aspects of their handling of the events. He also said peaceful protest was a right, while armed activity in the streets was not acceptable.
President Pezeshkian attributed the deep distrust between Iran and the United States to repeated violations of agreements and attacks during negotiations. He called for a joint mechanism to address disputes before they escalate. He also rejected allegations that Iran was seeking to assassinate Americans, saying Tehran wanted regional peace.
Regarding China, the president said he was unaware of claims concerning Chinese satellite imagery and stressed that military matters were handled by the relevant authorities. He also said that US pressure had prevented Iran from accessing even its own funds held in China.
On Iran’s economy, President Pezeshkian said sanctions and war had created difficulties but maintained that Iran would continue functioning and withstand the pressure. He said Iran’s decisions were not dependent on US elections and that Tehran remained ready for dialogue if Washington recognized Iran’s rights under international law.
Asked whether the war could end before the year’s end, President Pezeshkian said Iran did not want war and believed disputes should be resolved through dialogue. He said Iran would defend itself while leaving the decision on whether to end the conflict to the United States.