{"id":2670176,"date":"2026-09-25T20:00:16","date_gmt":"2026-09-26T00:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iranian-president-plays-victim-on-fox-news-after-decades-of-terror-funding-we-do-not-seek-war\/"},"modified":"2026-09-25T20:01:56","modified_gmt":"2026-09-26T00:01:56","slug":"iranian-president-plays-victim-on-fox-news-after-decades-of-terror-funding-we-do-not-seek-war","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iranian-president-plays-victim-on-fox-news-after-decades-of-terror-funding-we-do-not-seek-war\/","title":{"rendered":"Iranian President Plays Victim on Fox News After Decades of Terror Funding: &#8216;We Do Not Seek War&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">34<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Firanian-president-plays-victim-on-fox-news-after-decades-of-terror-funding-we-do-not-seek-war%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2670176&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The provided content features a web page segment containing a &#8220;Read more&#8230;&#8221; button that, when clicked, reveals additional hidden content. The main article quotes iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in an interview with Fox News, where he states that Iran did not choose war with the United States but was compelled to defend itself against external pressures. He denies Iran\u2019s pursuit of nuclear weapons, asserting their religious and legal prohibition, though U.S. intelligence suggests Iran has been enriching uranium beyond civilian levels and pursuing nuclear weapons capabilities.<\/p>\n<p>Pezeshkian also claims Iran is willing to reduce uranium enrichment and allow inspections, referencing an agreement with former U.S. president Trump as a framework for future negotiations. Though,contradicting these claims are longstanding U.S. reports that accuse Iran of supporting terrorist activities in the Middle East through groups like Hezbollah and the IRGC-QF, which the U.S. designates as a terrorist institution.<\/p>\n<p>The article notes ongoing tensions, with U.S. officials questioning Iran\u2019s nuclear ambitions. Meanwhile, Iran\u2019s leadership emphasizes willingness to cooperate under verification, but geopolitical and security concerns remain unresolved. The content also includes various scripts for advertisements and site features, with some references to ad slots and user interaction elements.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told Fox News on Thursday that Iran did not \u201cchoose war\u201d with the United States and claimed the country was forced to fight back, while also denying the nation\u2019s nuclear ambitions.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIs Iran choosing war or a deal? Fox News anchor Bret Baier asked. \u201cWe did not choose war. The war was imposed on us. We do not seek war,\u201d Pezeshkian replied.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRather, whenever they attack us, we are forced to defend ourselves,\u201d he continued. \u201cWe\u2019ve never started a war, but if they wish to keep fighting with us, we will respond strongly, resolutely. And today, the pressures that they keep imposing on us is \u2014 so as to force us to surrender outside of a legal framework of international law, which is impossible.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">\u201cSo is Iran choosing war or a deal?\u201d<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/BretBaier?\">@BretBaier<\/a> presses Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in an exclusive <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SpecialReport?\">@SpecialReport<\/a> interview as U.S.-Iran negotiations continue amid heightened tensions.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe do not choose war. The war was imposed on us. We do not seek war,\u201d Pezeshkian\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/CIusXvkRyY\">pic.twitter.com\/CIusXvkRyY<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Fox News (@FoxNews) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/FoxNews\/status\/2103248034402365636?\">September 24, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Baier also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/world\/iranian-president-blames-us-middle-east-conflict-denying-nuclear-ambitions-offers-dilute-uranium\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">asked<\/a>, \u201cDo you want a nuclear bomb or not?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNot at all. Not at all,\u201d he replied. \u201cOur martyred, esteemed supreme leader had announced several times that, from a religious decree, it is unholy. It is illegal.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>These denials, however, clash with U.S. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/crs-product\/IF12106\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">intel<\/a> about Iran enriching uranium to levels far beyond those needed for civilian energy.<\/p>\n<p>A congressional report from July about Iran\u2019s nuclear weapons production stated: \u201cSince the early 2000s, Tehran\u2019s construction of gas centrifuge uranium enrichment facilities has generated widespread concern in Congress that Tehran is pursuing nuclear weapons.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAccording to past U.S. intelligence assessments, Tehran had the capacity to produce nuclear weapons at some point but had halted its nuclear weapons program and had not mastered all of the necessary technologies for building such weapons,\u201d the report added.<\/p>\n<p>Pezeshkian\u2019s statements are also in direct contradiction with Iran\u2019s actions over the past several decades when it comes to funding terrorist activity against the United States.<\/p>\n<p>A 2021 <a href=\"https:\/\/2021-2025.state.gov\/reports\/country-reports-on-terrorism-2021\/iran\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">report<\/a> by the U.S. State Department outlines various instances in which Iran acted with intent to harm American interests and cited how the nation was \u201cdesignated as a State Sponsor of Terrorism in 1984.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIran continued its support for terrorist-related activity in 2021, including support for Hizballah, Palestinian terrorist groups in Gaza, and various terrorist and militant groups in Iraq, Syria, Bahrain, and elsewhere throughout the Middle East,\u201d the report stated.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIran used the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) to provide support to terrorist organizations, provide cover for associated covert operations, and create instability in the region,\u201d it continued. \u201cIran has acknowledged the involvement of the IRGC-QF in the Iraq and Syria conflicts, and the IRGC-QF is Iran\u2019s primary mechanism for cultivating and supporting terrorist activity abroad. In 2019, the Secretary of State designated the IRGC, including IRGC-QF, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, Iran has used \u201cregional militant and proxy groups to provide deniability, in an attempt to shield it from accountability for its destabilizing policies.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Pezeshkian claimed that Tehran would be willing to lower its enrichment levels and allow outside inspectors to verify their actions, but their inability to come to a deal with American officials has left things in limbo.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo, that weapon\u2019s mass destruction. We said we\u2019re willing to dilute them. It\u2019s not a big deal. We are willing to submit ourselves to verification,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Iran\u2019s president also stated that the memorandum of understanding signed by himself and Trump should be used as a framework for the future.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat agreement was signed, and, based on that, we are willing and still wish to move forward,\u201d he declared.\u00a0\u201cAnd the framework was agreed upon. We had not closed the Strait of Hormuz; it was open without any legal justification or framework.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trump has been promising an end to the conflict for months, but has been unable to definitively conclude the war.<\/p>\n<p>During the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York City on Tuesday, the president <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/trump-confronts-cnns-kaitlan-collins-un-not-covering\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">said<\/a> \u201cwe\u2019re making a lot of progress\u201d on Iran, but it remains unclear if the conflict will come to a close before the midterm elections.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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When asked if Iran seeks war or a deal, he responded that war was imposed on Iran and they do not seek conflict<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2670177,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Ben-Working-Feature-Image-2026-09-25T165432.348.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[32135,3823,3669,86265],"class_list":["post-2670176","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-fox-news","tag-iran","tag-president","tag-terror-funding"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Ben-Working-Feature-Image-2026-09-25T165432.348.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2670176","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2670176"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2670176\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2670179,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2670176\/revisions\/2670179"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2670177"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2670176"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2670176"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2670176"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}