Iran’s President Signals Openness to Business, Cites Distrust in West After Nuclear Talks Collapse

Tucker Carlson’s July 2025 interview with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, aired on his independent platform, laid out his government’s position on nuclear policy, regional security, and economic engagement.

The interview offered rare direct answers on issues that have shaped Middle East politics and international trade for decades.

Pezeshkian stated that Iran has never sought nuclear weapons, referencing a religious decree from the Supreme Leader that forbids such development.

He emphasized Iran’s past cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and blamed recent disruptions on attacks against Iranian nuclear sites.

He said these attacks damaged monitoring equipment, complicating verification efforts. He also expressed readiness to resume talks and allow supervision if access to damaged facilities is restored.

Throughout the discussion, Pezeshkian pointed to Israel as the main source of instability in the region, accusing it of sabotaging diplomatic efforts and carrying out attacks on Iranian officials and infrastructure.

He argued that Israeli actions have undermined trust in international institutions, including the IAEA, and have fueled regional unrest. He said Iran has not attacked Israel but has responded to what he described as imposed conflicts.

Iran’s President Signals Openness to Business, Cites Distrust in West After Nuclear Talks Collapse

Pezeshkian addressed American concerns about Iran’s intentions and nuclear ambitions. He insisted that “death to America” slogans do not target the American people but rather express opposition to perceived injustice and foreign intervention.

He pointed out that Iran has not invaded another country in over 200 years and denied any state-backed assassination attempts against foreign leaders.

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On economic matters, Pezeshkian declared that Iran welcomes foreign investment, including from the United States, and faces no internal barriers to such engagement.

He attributed the lack of American business activity in Iran to U.S. sanctions, not Iranian policy. He stressed that the Supreme Leader supports foreign investment, provided it respects Iran’s sovereignty.

The president also said that Iran would consider returning to negotiations with the United States, but only if there are guarantees against further attacks during talks.

He expressed skepticism about the reliability of Western partners, citing past interruptions of diplomacy and attacks on Iranian figures as reasons for mistrust.

Pezeshkian concluded by urging the United States to avoid entanglement in regional conflicts, arguing that such involvement serves neither American nor Iranian interests.

He called for peace and economic cooperation, suggesting that the path to stability lies in mutual respect and adherence to international law.

This interview marks a significant statement from Iran’s leadership, signaling both a willingness to engage economically and a firm stance on sovereignty and security.

The implications for international business and regional stability depend on whether diplomatic channels can be rebuilt and trust restored through verifiable actions.