The Iranian President denies the existence of a conspiracy to kill Trump and calls on him to seek peace Donald Trump news

The interview comes less than a week before Trump, who previously followed a hard line with Tehran, returns to power.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian denied reports that his country planned to kill US President-elect Donald Trump after two previous attempts on his life in 2024.

In an interview with US media NBC News broadcast on Tuesday, Pezeshkian also insisted that Iran’s nuclear program is peaceful and warned Trump against risking “war.”

The interview with the Iranian president, widely seen as a centrist, was broadcast less than a week before the inauguration of Trump, who during his first term implemented tough policies against Iran.

“We have never tried to do this (attempt to assassinate Trump) and we never will,” Pezeshkian told NBC.

In November, the US Department of Justice charged an Iranian man in connection with an alleged plot by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to assassinate the Republican leader. Law enforcement forces foiled the alleged plan before any attack was carried out.

Trump said last year during the US election campaign that Iran may be backward Attempts to kill him.

The 78-year-old, who won the US election last year and will take office on Monday, survived two assassination attempts during the campaign – one in September while he was playing golf on his course in West Palm Beach, Florida, and the other during July. Demonstration in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Investigators found no evidence of Iranian involvement in either. Iran has also previously denied US allegations of interference in American affairs, including through cyber operations.

Calls for peace

Pezeshkian reiterated that the Iranian nuclear program is peaceful and that Tehran does not seek to obtain “nuclear weapons.”

During Trump’s first term, the United States withdrew from the 2015 treaty Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) The agreement lifted sanctions on Iran’s nuclear plans in exchange for oversight.

Trump also threatened during his recent presidential campaign that Israel, an ally of the United States, might strike Iranian nuclear facilities.

“I hope that Trump will lead to peace in the region and the world, and on the contrary will not contribute to bloodshed or war,” Pezeshkian told NBC. “We will respond to any action. We do not fear war, but we do not seek it.”

In response to a question about the possibility of holding talks with Trump, the Iranian president said: “Our problem is not dialogue. In the obligations that arise from talks and dialogue, we must adhere to them… the other party (which) has not adhered to its promises and commitments.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi announced on Tuesday that the ongoing talks with European powers show their seriousness about resuming negotiations on the nuclear program.