Iran’s president tells Fox anchor the war was ‘imposed on us’

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Thursday that Tehran was forced into its now six-month-long conflict with the U.S. and warned that Iran will respond “strongly” if attacks continue.

“We did not choose war, the war was imposed on us. We do not seek war,” Pezeshkian told Fox News host Bret Baier in an interview on “Special Report.”

“We never started a war,” he continued. “But if they wish to keep fighting with us, we will respond strongly, resolutely.”

The months-long conflict between the U.S. and Iran has shown few signs of ending. President Trump this week again threatened Iran with further destruction if an agreement is not reached with the U.S., and claimed Iran is waiting until after the fall election to make a deal.

The Iranian president pushed back on the pressure from Trump, denying allegations that Iran was waiting until after the midterm elections to reach an agreement and accusing the U.S. of seeking to destabilize the region and bring down the Iranian government.

“Trump kept saying, ‘I want to bring a gift to the people of Iran,’” Pezeshkian said. “But the gift that they brought us were guided missiles, heavy weapons and destruction.”

He argued that Washington was trying to fuel unrest inside Iran to “pave the way for the downfall” of the country’s political system.

The Iranian president also claimed Iran “never sought nuclear weapons,” despite long-term international scrutiny over Iran’s uranium enrichment and nuclear program that the Trump administration sought to destroy.

“Our martyred, esteemed supreme leader had announced several times that, from a religious decree, it is unholy. It is illegal,” he said, referring to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed by U.S.-Israeli strikes on Feb. 28.

Pezeshkian repeatedly insisted that Tehran remained open to diplomacy, adding that disputes should be settled through negotiations rather than continued military action.

“We did reach an agreement with your president,” Pezeshkian said, referring to a memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran signed in June that ultimately fell apart. “That agreement was signed, and based on that, we are willing and still wish to move forward.”

Pezeshkian was in New York this week for the United Nations General Assembly, where he similarly struck a defiant tone over the conflict. During his address to the world body, he insisted that Iran would not back down or surrender and will continue to defend itself.