Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian used a rare interview with American television to frame Tehran's escalating military posture as defensive rather than aggressive, claiming that external forces have forced Iran into conflict. Speaking to Fox News anchor Bret Baier on Thursday, Pezeshkian stated plainly: "We did not choose war, the war was imposed on us. We do not seek war."
The remarks come as U.S.-Iran tensions have intensified over six months of military confrontation. Pezeshkian's message targeted American audiences directly, attempting to reshape how the conflict is perceived in the United States ahead of potential further escalations. His appearance on Fox News, a network with significant reach among conservative American voters and decision-makers, signals Iran's effort to communicate its position through traditional U.S. media channels rather than through diplomatic backchannels alone.
Pezeshkian coupled his defensive framing with a direct warning. He told Baier that Iran will respond with force if American attacks persist. The threat comes as both nations have traded military strikes and rhetoric throughout 2024. In April, Iran launched roughly 300 drones and missiles at Israel following an Israeli strike on Iranian military installations. That attack prompted U.S. military assets to defend Israel while President Joe Biden's administration sought to de-escalate tensions.
The Iranian president's Fox News interview reflects a broader diplomatic strategy. Iran has long maintained that its military actions stem from external provocation, particularly from the United States and its regional allies. Tehran points to American economic sanctions, military presence in the Persian Gulf, and support for Israel as justification for its assertive posture. By granting an interview to Baier, Pezeshkian hoped to present this narrative directly to American voters during an election year when foreign policy plays a role in voter calculations.
The timing carries weight. As the 2024 presidential election approached, Iran sought to influence perceptions about who bears responsibility for Middle Eastern instability. Democrats emphasized diplomacy and restraint, while Republicans adopted harder lines toward Tehran. Pezeshkian's appearance allowed Iran to address American domestic audiences without relying on intermediaries or filtered reporting.
The interview also served domestic purposes within Iran. Pezeshkian, who took office in August 2023, has positioned himself as a relative moderate within Iran's governing structure. By defending Iran's military actions as responses to external pressure while simultaneously emphasizing that Iran does not desire war, he balanced competing domestic constituencies. Hardliners within Iran's security establishment push for aggressive postures, while other factions favor negotiation and economic engagement.
The six-month conflict Pezeshkian referenced encompasses several escalatory incidents. Beyond the April missile and drone strike on Israel, Iran has conducted cyberattacks, supported proxy forces in Iraq and Yemen, and increased military exercises near the Strait of Hormuz. Each action drew American responses, creating a cycle that both nations attribute to the other's aggression.
Pezeshkian's insistence that "war was imposed" represents Iran's legal and diplomatic position. Under international law, nations claiming self-defense must demonstrate they face imminent threats. By framing American actions and Israeli strikes as aggression imposed upon Iran, Tehran justifies its military responses as lawful defensive measures rather than unprovoked attacks.
Whether American policymakers and voters accepted Pezeshkian's framing remained uncertain. His Fox News appearance marked one of the few direct communication channels between Tehran's leadership and the American public, a window that both sides recognized held value despite deep mistrust.