Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stressed Tehran does not fear war but does not seek to launch it either expressing hope that the incoming US President elect will pursue peace rather than conflict.
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Pezeshkian made the remarks in an interview with NBC broadcasted on Tuesday, as he emphasized the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programs.
In his recent presidential campaign, Trump threatened that US ally Israel could strike Iranian nuclear facilities.
"I do hope that Trump will conduce to peace in the region and the world not, conversely, contribute to bloodshed or war," he said when asked about his message for the incoming US president.
Iranian President added, “We will react to any action. We do not fear war, but we do not seek it either.”
The comment comes less than a week before Trump’s return to the White House.
He also reiterated that Iran does not aim to develop nuclear weapons, despite persistent allegations by the United States and its European allies.
When asked by NBC News host Lester Holt about the possibility of entering new negotiations with Trump, President Pezeshkian remarked that the issue is not dialogue itself but the commitments arising from such talks.
“The problem we have is not in dialogue. It’s in the commitments that arise from talks and dialogue that we’ll have to commit to,” he said, adding, “It was the other party did not live up to its promises and obligations.”
Under the nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran agreed to certain restrictions on its civilian nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of sanctions targeting its economy.
Tehran had remained compliant with the agreement—as repeatedly verified by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)—and continued to honor its terms for a year after the US withdrawal in 2018.
However, with European powers failing to counter US pressure, Iran began to reduce its nuclear commitments under the terms of the agreement.
