Iran's president says Tehran open to dialogue with US, accuses Israel of assassination attempt
"I am of the belief that we could very much easily resolve our differences and conflicts with the United States through dialogue and talks," Pezeshkian told conservative US podcaster Tucker Carlson in an interview conducted on Saturday.
The Iranian leader urged US President Donald Trump not to be drawn into war with Iran by Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu, who is visiting Washington on Monday for talks at the White House.
"The United States' president, Mr Trump, he is capable enough to guide the region towards the peace and a brighter future and put Israel in its place. Or get into a pit, an endless pit, or a swamp," Pezeshkian said. "So it is up to the United States president to choose which path."
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said she was not sure if Trump had seen the Iranian president's comments, but agreed he was the right man to move the region towards peace.
Pezeshkian blamed Israel, Iran's arch-enemy, for the collapse of talks that were in place when Israel began its strikes on Iran on Jun 13, starting a 12-day air war with Israel in which top Iranian commanders and nuclear scientists were killed.
"How are we going to trust the United States again?" Pezeshkian said. "How can we know for sure that in the middle of the talks, the Israeli regime will not be given the permission again to attack us?"
Pezeshkian also said that Israel tried to assassinate him.
"They did try, yes," he said. "They acted accordingly, but they failed."
Israel did not immediately respond to the allegation. A senior Israeli military official said last month that Israel killed more than 30 senior security officials and 11 senior nuclear scientists in its attack on Iran's nuclear sites.
Trump said he expected to discuss Iran and its nuclear ambitions with Netanyahu, praising the US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites as a tremendous success. On Friday, he told reporters that he believed Tehran's nuclear program had been set back permanently, although Iran could restart efforts elsewhere.
Iran has always denied seeking a nuclear weapon.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
27 minutes ago
- CNA
Commentary: Netanyahu will do just enough for the idea of Gaza ceasefire to keep Washington in his corner
SINGAPORE: As foreign leaders go, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a regular at the White House. His visit in early July was his third in President Donald Trump's second term – all of six months old – and followed the US strikes on Iran's nuclear sites. Basking in the afterglow of the assault, Mr Netanyahu seized the opportunity to further stroke Mr Trump's ego by nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize, for his 'pivotal role' in negotiating the normalisation of relations between Israel and several Arab states. But for all his flattery, Mr Netanyahu's true objectives suggest peace is just about the last thing on his mind. When it comes to Gaza and Iran, the Israeli Prime Minister is using creativity to balance both US interests and his own needs. Put simply, Mr Netanyahu will do just enough to support the idea of a ceasefire deal in Gaza and a nuclear deal with Iran, but the pursuit of war remains key to his political survival. VIOLENCE CONTINUES Despite Mr Trump's optimism at the beginning of the month about a possible 60-day ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, an agreement has yet to materialise. Much was made of his demand on Truth Social to 'make the deal in Gaza, get the hostages back', but there was nary a whimper following Mr Netanyahu's visit. The last ceasefire, achieved by the joint efforts of both the outgoing Biden administration and the incoming Trump one shortly before the presidential inauguration in January, was broken by large-scale Israeli airstrikes 16 days after the first of a planned three-phase agreement. The truth is that while Mr Netanyahu talks peace, Israeli strikes continue to pummel Gazans seeking aid, killing many and injuring even workers from the American-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). These actions have coincided with an uptick in settler violence on the West Bank. JUGGLING GAZA AND IRAN FOR SURVIVAL This continuing cycle of violence is closely tied to Mr Netanyahu's grip on power. Almost two years removed from the security debacle that was the Oct 7, 2023 Hamas attacks, the Israeli prime minister's domestic political standing has made an astounding recovery, due in large part to the successful military action against Iran – which even opposition figures such as Yair Lapid coalesced around. But the far-right coalition he built is wobbling. Already, two ultra-Orthodox parties have quit his government over disagreements surrounding military draft exemptions. One of the two parties, Shas, urged Mr Netanyahu to do 'everything in his power' to reach a deal with Hamas – a statement which runs in stark opposition to the far-right's desire for Israel to press on with the war, and one which exposes the limits of his high-wire juggling act. Mr Netanyahu's need for the right-wing elements in government to prop him up means that he will have to indulge in some of their ideas, however audacious they may be. One of the latest proposals includes the resurrection of the plan to relocate Gazans, but this time through a transfer of 600,000 Palestinians into a 'humanitarian city' built on the ruins of Rafah, south of the enclave. Much to his displeasure, however, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have warned that his plans risk budget overload, and the derailing of ceasefire and hostage release negotiations. On the international front, meanwhile, Israel's image has taken a battering. In late May, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in a televised interview that Israeli actions in Gaza 'can no longer be justified by a fight against terrorism'. These remarks come from a country with a longstanding political commitment towards Israel following World War II and the Holocaust. On Monday (Jul 21), 28 countries, including Britain, France, and Australia, signed a statement warning that the ' suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths '. With Washington in his corner, however, Mr Netanyahu continues to thumb his nose at the international community. GOING DOWN UNCHARTED ROUTES The pressure on Mr Netanyahu has led him to take Israel down some uncharted routes. Its strikes on Syria, under the pretext of solidarity with the Israeli Druze community, constitute a case in point. Not only is he going against US support for regional stability, he is also exercising unchecked military power – a worrying sign for Arab countries in the region. To be clear, the Syrian government was finalising a truce with Sweida's religious leaders as the Israeli strikes carried on. But this presents complications for the nascent steps towards normalisation between both countries, not to mention its relationship with Washington as Mr Trump was reportedly 'caught off guard' by the strikes. Mr Netanyahu's nomination of Mr Trump for the peace prize should be seen in this light: Washington has made clear it wants Tel Aviv to 'stand down' when it comes to Damascus, but the Israeli leader is betting the house that he can navigate this particular obstacle course. The next few months may offer more pathways for him. A three-month parliament recess affords him some space to placate his fractious coalition. In Gaza, he has confirmed that Israel is arming clans in Gaza to take down Hamas. In facing down what is perhaps the most serious threat to him – his ongoing corruption trial – he has a solid ally in the White House. Mr Trump, motivated by a sense of grievance against what he considers politically-motivated persecution against him, has rallied to the side of those he deems have suffered the same form of injustice. He has lashed out at Mr Netanyahu's trial, saying that Washington was not going to 'stand for this'. In an unprecedented move, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee was in the gallery last week for a court hearing, and called the whole process 'wrong'. Observers have frequently said that warfare sustains Mr Netanyahu. In Gaza, and Syria, he has shown there is at least some truth to this. Iran remains in play, too. These conflict theatres anchor the Israeli prime minister's divide and conquer policy – for his own political survival.
CNA
27 minutes ago
- CNA
Is Asian talent still keen on the US as Trump tightens immigration rules?
Globally, the US has more immigrants than any other country. Asia is its largest source of international students, with those from India and China topping the list. The continent is also a significant source of skilled workers. But these days, would-be migrants could find more obstacles in their paths. Since his return to the White House, US President Donald Trump has issued various executive orders expanding deportations, cutting legal protections and reinstating travel bans. Last month, his travel ban hit Southeast Asia for the first time, subjecting citizens from Laos and Myanmar to partial and full restrictions respectively. While those policies have mostly targeted undocumented migrants and asylum seekers, even those with legal status are anxious about the government's widening anti-immigration policy stance. In April, the Trump administration revoked hundreds of student visas, citing national security concerns. But it later reversed the decision. Then last month, it resumed processing new student visa applications after a month-long pause but now requires applicants to unlock their social media accounts for review. American immigration policies are reshaping the lives of foreign students and workers, both current and prospective — not least at a time when the new academic year is approaching. And in the wake of the crackdowns and shifting rules, the question is, will Asian talent still be drawn to the US? WORK AND FAMILY UNCERTAINTIES For Indian national Neeraja Kulkarni, the US was more than a place of study. It was a launch pad for doing meaningful work in clean energy. 'I came to the US to get an education and exposure. Because at that point, I thought the US had the most influential effect in global politics,' said Kulkarni, who came to America in 2022 to pursue a master's degree. 'I was thinking I'd study for 16 months, and I'd work here for two, three years, get experience and then head back to India to support the development sector.' She graduated in December 2023 and found work through the optional practical training programme. It allows international students in the US to work in their field of study for a year, commencing before or after graduation. At the end of it, the employer must sponsor a work visa if the graduate is to stay on. Kulkarni began having second thoughts, however, before her year was up. 'It does feel unsafe in this country,' she said. The US isn't just regressing right now — it's a rogue nation. And it's not a great time to be here.' Recently, several approved H-1B work visa holders who sought re-entry into the US were turned away and had their visa revoked, which has been 'surprising to some,' said Erickson Immigration Group partner Hiba Anver. The H-1B visa allows employers to hire highly educated foreigners in sectors like technology, engineering, finance and healthcare. The government caps the annual number of new H-1B visas at 65,000, with another 20,000 available for individuals with advanced degrees from US institutions. Indians, followed by Chinese, take up the most H-1B Visas. However, despite interning at a 'really famous' think-tank in Washington DC after graduation, Kulkarni found it difficult to find an employer that would sponsor her H-1B visa. She believes 'changes in the new administration' led to a 'suspension (of) the decisions' by employers in the development sector about whether to hire international graduates like her. Faced with these challenges, she left the US last month. She has moved back to India to join a local think-tank, bringing home her degree and her student loan debt. 'If I was doing a job in the US, it would've been easier and faster to pay back the loan,' Kulkarni said. 'But (my) decision … to go back came with the kind of job I wanted to do and … life I wanted to live, and being safer and (more) certain and supporting my people more.' Other foreigners living stateside, such as married couple Amit Pandey and Sakshi Tripathi — both professionals on H-1B visas — have also had their American ambitions shaken amid the political turbulence. In January, Trump signed an executive order seeking to end automatic birthright citizenship, which is granted under the US Constitution to anyone born on American soil, irrespective of the parents' immigration status. 'I was quite disappointed to know that this rule will come out soon, and my (future) children wouldn't be getting US citizenship and the rights that US citizens and their children are getting,' said Tripathi. Should the executive order take effect, highlighted Anver, some children born in the US would 'essentially be stateless until their parents have taken some sort of proactive steps … to get some sort of alternative citizenship for them'. Trump's order is still being challenged in court. The outcome could give pause to skilled Asian migrants, if there is no pathway to citizenship for their children. Citizenship for their future children was a major factor in Pandey and his wife's decision to move to the US. 'I've gone through a lot in the Indian system and society,' he said, '(which) I wouldn't want my next generation to go through.' But now the couple's pregnancy plans are on hold. IN EDUCATION, A LOT OF PUSH-AND-PULL The appeal of the US as the world's top destination for higher education, especially science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), is also clouded by growing unease. Already, a survey done last October by the Keystone Education Group found that 42 per cent of foreign students were less likely to consider studying in the US under a Trump presidency. His administration's immigration policies are now creating 'a culture of fear' in the US, with 'reverberations' that could affect even those considering visiting the country, said Anver. Besides the policies themselves, the anti-immigrant rhetoric at the governmental level 'gives permission for people to sort of target … a vulnerable population of our communities', said Asian American Federation interim co-executive director Joo Han. In a survey conducted this year by The Asian American Foundation, 60 per cent of Asian Americans said they did not completely feel that they belonged in the US. During the pandemic, there was a spike in anti-Asian hate. Then in the past few months, there has been a 'normalisation of hate', said Ashok Gladston Xavier, an associate professor of social work at Loyola College, Chennai. And if more Asians are deterred from seeking educational and economic opportunities in the US, there are long-term economic costs that could hurt the country. 'The dependence on students coming from abroad in the US is very heavy,' highlighted Xavier, who has been working in the area of migration. Between 2022 and last year, international students contributed over US$40 billion per academic year to the US economy. For every three foreign students, one job is created through tuition fees and demand for goods and services. Many students also stay on in the US to work, with tech giants Amazon, Cognizant, IBM, Infosys, Microsoft and Tata Consultancy Services being the biggest H1-B visa sponsors. But that pipeline for talent is starting to narrow. A survey of international students found last September that prospective advanced STEM students increasingly anticipated shorter-term stays in the US. Four in 10 of these students anticipated staying three years or less after graduation, while three in 10 would plan to stay longer. In the 2021 survey, the results were the other way round. 'If the students stop going there, the talent pool in the US also reduces,' said Xavier. 'Ten years (from now) you'll see the impact.' There is a reverse brain drain underway already. The rate at which China-born scientists have left the US surged 75 per cent in the years 2019 to 2021, according to a Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences research paper. These scientists reported difficulty in pursuing their research and general feelings of anxiety. As most of them return home, China is closing the innovation gap with the US. 'People won't stop pursuing whatever it is that they want to do,' observed Kiara Bhagwanjee, head of growth at health technology startup Superscript. 'They'll go somewhere else where they can do it instead. It just won't be America.' Meanwhile, legal resistance is mounting, with more than 200 lawsuits being brought against various Trump policies, including on immigration. Recent surveys also show a shift in opinion towards disapproval of his handling of the issue. 'The history of the US as a country that provides economic opportunities for immigrants will always be part of its image abroad,' said Han. 'But … we're at a precarious juncture.' At this point, US universities still dominate, accounting for seven of the top 10 universities in the Times Higher Education rankings. And the American dream holds sway over many. In Beijing, 17-year-old Lee Xiao Xing hopes to study film stateside. 'The US is a very diverse place. And it has infinite possibilities,' he said. 'It can offer so much experience, … which may be very helpful for you to find jobs all over the world in future.' His path, however, has not been easy. 'When Trump won, and he immediately proposed tighter visa restrictions on foreign students, I was really scared,' Lee recalled. I've been studying international courses (to go to the US) since first grade, so I feel I have no way back.' He is making his fourth attempt at a US student visa and is now learning French — in case he must pivot towards studying in France. 'From Trump's perspective, he must feel that resources … should be channelled to Americans,' said Lee. 'If they could loosen things up a bit, … America's relationships with surrounding countries — with other countries — might also improve.' Back in Delhi, devotees continue to flock to the Miraculous 'Visa-Granting' Hanuman Temple for a shot at living abroad. 'One benefit we get from working abroad is … a better living standard,' said Anand. 'In terms of salary, that's also more. 'That's why I decided that if I'm getting an opportunity, I should go for it.'
CNA
an hour ago
- CNA
Bessent accuses Fed of ‘politically biased' forecasts, Fed pushes back
WASHINGTON: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday (Jul 23) suggested, without providing evidence, that the Federal Reserve's economic forecasts are influenced by political considerations, a charge the central bank has rejected. "The Fed publishes something called a summary of economic projections, and it's pretty politically biased," Bessent said. He was referring to the Fed's widely followed quarterly projections that reflect the views of its 19 policymakers on key economic indicators including interest rates. Bessent said the forecasts amount to expectations for just one or two quarter-point interest-rate cuts this year, which he claimed does not reflect current economic realities. President Donald Trump has called for an immediate 300 basis-point rate cut to boost growth. The summary of economic projections, released after each Fed policy meeting, does not attribute forecasts to individual policymakers. In June, eight officials projected two rate cuts in 2025, seven saw no change, two expected one cut, and two projected three. Several of Trump's appointees to the Fed, including Governor Christopher Waller and Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman, have publicly backed a rate cut this month based on economic data. However, Fed Chair Jerome Powell, also a Trump appointee, has not indicated support for such a move. The Fed has consistently rejected claims of political influence, maintaining that its policy decisions are guided by its dual mandate of maximum employment and price stability. 'Politics play no role in our decisions,' a Fed spokesperson said. 'Suggesting otherwise undermines the credibility of the institution and the effectiveness of monetary policy.' The Trump administration has increased its pressure on the central bank in recent months, arguing that high interest rates are stifling investment and job creation as the 2026 presidential campaign cycle begins to take shape.
