Alibi to attack Iran: Masoud Pezeshkian rejects US's nuclear enrichment charge
President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday slammed the attack on Iran by the US and Israel which started in February, saying the enemy was running "fake propaganda" that Tehran was expanding its nuclear enrichment programme, and alleged that they used it as an alibi to launch a military offensive against his country.
In an exclusive interview with India Today Group Editor (Foreign Affairs) Geeta Mohan, Pezeshkian denied that Iran is seeking nuclear weapons and said Tehran's nuclear activities have been carried out within international rules.
"If we were seeking nuclear weapons, we wouldn't have become a member of NPT. Now they are bringing about alibis and pretexts to attack our soil," Pezeshkian said, arguing that Iran's nuclear programme has been subject to extensive monitoring. He said Iran would be ready to negotiate on nuclear issues within the NPT and internationally recognised principles.
"They exercise the greatest amount of monitoring regarding nuclear activities in Iran on a daily basis. They came and monitored, but we did everything and worked within the framework of international principles," he stressed.
Pezeshkian questioned what concrete evidence the US and Israel had to justify attacking Iran, calling their claims baseless lies being deliberately spread as propaganda. "It is lies they are propagating".
The Iranian President further questioned why Israelβs nuclear capabilities face limited international scrutiny despite its non-membership in the NPT. He condemned Israel and the US over their actions in Gaza and Lebanon, accusing them of killing civilians and restricting essential supplies. He said Iranβs opposition to their policies should not justify attacks, calling the situation oppression while criticising the worldβs silence.
He also said Tehran is ready to resume negotiations on the nuclear issue within the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), but ruled out an immediate return to direct talks with the US, saying trust between the two sides has been badly damaged.
Pezeshkian, however, said direct talks with US President Donald Trump would be difficult at present because of the killing of Iran's supreme leader during the conflict.
Asked whether Iran would agree to direct talks with Trump without preconditions, Pezeshkian said Tehran could not make such a decision immediately.
He said the killing of Iran's former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei right on the first day of the war that started on February 28, had created a deep problem of trust and made it difficult for Iranian society to simply return to negotiations with the US.
"They have martyred our leader on what basis? It is very difficult for our society, you know. Imagine a society whose leader has been assassinated and martyred, and then you expect other members of society to come talk directly with us," he asserted.
"The atmosphere of trust should be established again," Pezeshkian said, adding that Tehran needed to be sure that the US would honour its commitments.
The Iranian president also referred to previous rounds of negotiations, saying Iran had been engaged in talks when the conflict began and had later returned to the negotiating table. He claimed the two sides had been close to an agreement before the US again attacked Iran.
Pezeshkian said Tehran had subsequently reached an understanding and signed a memorandum of understanding, but alleged that the US later abandoned it.
He said Iran's position remained that sanctions should be lifted and that the US should stop attacking Iran.
On the nuclear issue, Pezeshkian rejected allegations that Tehran was pursuing nuclear weapons and questioned why Israel's nuclear capabilities were not subjected to similar international scrutiny.
He maintained that Iran's opposition to Israel and its support for Palestinians were being used as pretexts to target Tehran.
Pezeshkian urged the international community not to believe the US, saying they are running fake propaganda against Iran. "They are telling the world that Iran is seeking nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction. Are we seeking nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction, or are they actually killing people in Lebanon and Gaza on a daily basis? But unfortunately, the world is looking at their beautiful appearance, and they are telling the truth," he said.
Pezeshkian's comments come amid continuing tensions between Iran and the US, with the Iranian president insisting that Tehran is not seeking war but will respond to attacks against it.- EndsPublished By: Anuja JhaPublished On: Sep 12, 2026 20:19 IST
