"They did. They acted, but they failed," Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in an interview released on 7/7. He was responding to a question from interviewer Tucker Carlson about whether he believed Israel had attempted to assassinate him during the recent conflict between the two countries.

"I was in a meeting, and they bombed the area where the meeting was taking place," President Pezeshkian added. He emphasized that Israel, not the US, was behind the assassination attempt.

Israel has not commented on President Pezeshkian's accusation. However, during the 12-day conflict, Israeli government and military officials publicly stated they were seeking to assassinate Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran on 18/6. Photo: AFP

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran on 18/6. Photo: AFP

In the interview, President Pezeshkian also discussed nuclear negotiations with the US, stating that Iran has "no problem" restarting the process, as long as trust can be re-established between the two nations.

"There is one condition for restarting the negotiations: How can we trust the US again? How can we be sure that while negotiations are taking place, Israel will not attack us again?" the Iranian president said.

He argued that President Donald Trump's administration should not get involved in another "endless war" in the Middle East, claiming it is not "America's war, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's".

On 13/6, Israel launched a preemptive airstrike campaign against Iran, killing several high-ranking military commanders and scientists. Tehran retaliated with missile and drone attacks.

During the 12-day conflict, the US also directly intervened and attacked Iran's nuclear facilities, pressuring the country to negotiate. Tehran and Tel Aviv subsequently agreed to a ceasefire, but both claimed victory. The conflict resulted in over 900 deaths in Iran and 28 in Israel.

Ngoc Anh (AFP)