Masoud Pezeshkian Calls for Peace, Rejects Surrender

In an exclusive interview recorded at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian spoke with Al Jazeera Arabic journalist Ali al‑Dafiri about a range of pressing issues. The conversation, which runs for 43 minutes and five seconds, touched on stalled peace talks between the United States and Iran, regional conflicts, and the president’s appeal for greater Muslim unity.

Pezeshkian described Iran as the victim of what he termed “terrorism,” citing recent killings of Iranian officials, scientists and schoolchildren that he attributes to U.S. and Israeli actions. He warned that the escalation of U.S. sanctions is taking a heavy toll on Iran’s economy and that ongoing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz are adding to the country’s hardships.

The president argued that a series of broken agreements has eroded Tehran’s trust in Washington. He defended Iran’s recent retaliatory strikes on U.S. bases in the Gulf and other Arab locations, insisting that security in the region should be handled by local actors rather than foreign powers.

Pezeshkian also offered his perspective on the wars in Gaza and Yemen, the formation of a new Syrian government, and Iran’s growing ties with Russia and China. Throughout the interview he called for a united front among Muslim nations, with Saudi Arabia playing a leading role, to counter what he sees as U.S.–Israeli attempts to fragment the region.

The interview was published on 20 October 2026 by Al Jazeera.