Iran president says Israel attempted to assassinate him
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in an interview released on Monday that Israel, which last month fought a 12-day war with Iran, had attempted to assassinate him.
The remarks came less than a month after Israel launched its unprecedented June 13 bombing campaign against Iran, killing top military commanders and nuclear scientists.
The Israeli attacks took place two days before Tehran and Washington were set to meet for a new round of nuclear talks, stalling negotiations that were aimed at reaching a deal over Iran's atomic programme.
"They did try, yes. They acted accordingly, but they failed," Pezeshkian told US media figure Tucker Carlson in response to a question on whether he believed Israel had tried to kill him.
"It was not the United States that was behind the attempt on my life. It was Israel. I was in a meeting... they tried to bombard the area in which we were holding that meeting," he said according to a translation of his remarks from Persian, in apparent reference to an alleged assassination attempt during the recent war.
At least 1,060 people were killed in Iran during the conflict, according to Iran's Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs.
The Israeli attacks drew waves of retaliatory drone and missile fire, killing 28 people in Israel, according to authorities.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
8 hours ago
- IOL News
Iran president says Israel attempted to assassinate him
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in an interview released on July 7 that Israel, which last month fought a 12-day war with Iran, had attempted to assassinate him. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in an interview released on Monday that Israel, which last month fought a 12-day war with Iran, had attempted to assassinate him. The remarks came less than a month after Israel launched its unprecedented June 13 bombing campaign against Iran, killing top military commanders and nuclear scientists. The Israeli attacks took place two days before Tehran and Washington were set to meet for a new round of nuclear talks, stalling negotiations that were aimed at reaching a deal over Iran's atomic programme. "They did try, yes. They acted accordingly, but they failed," Pezeshkian told US media figure Tucker Carlson in response to a question on whether he believed Israel had tried to kill him. "It was not the United States that was behind the attempt on my life. It was Israel. I was in a meeting... they tried to bombard the area in which we were holding that meeting," he said according to a translation of his remarks from Persian, in apparent reference to an alleged assassination attempt during the recent war. At least 1,060 people were killed in Iran during the conflict, according to Iran's Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs. The Israeli attacks drew waves of retaliatory drone and missile fire, killing 28 people in Israel, according to authorities.
eNCA
10 hours ago
- eNCA
Iran president says Israel attempted to assassinate him
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in an interview released on Monday that Israel, which last month fought a 12-day war with Iran, had attempted to assassinate him. The remarks came less than a month after Israel launched its unprecedented June 13 bombing campaign against Iran, killing top military commanders and nuclear scientists. The Israeli attacks took place two days before Tehran and Washington were set to meet for a new round of nuclear talks, stalling negotiations that were aimed at reaching a deal over Iran's atomic programme. "They did try, yes. They acted accordingly, but they failed," Pezeshkian told US media figure Tucker Carlson in response to a question on whether he believed Israel had tried to kill him. "It was not the United States that was behind the attempt on my life. It was Israel. I was in a meeting... they tried to bombard the area in which we were holding that meeting," he said according to a translation of his remarks from Persian, in apparent reference to an alleged assassination attempt during the recent war. More than 900 people were killed in Iran during the conflict, according to the judiciary. The Israeli attacks drew waves of retaliatory drone and missile fire, killing 28 people in Israel, according to authorities. - 'Forever wars' - The 12-day war between Iran and Israel saw it, along with the United States, launching strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz. A ceasefire between Iran and Israel took hold since June 24. On June 16, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not rule out plans to assassinate Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying it would "end the conflict" after reports emerged at the time that US President Donald Trump had vetoed the move. During the war, Iranian authorities also said an Israeli plot to kill Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was foiled. In the interview with Carlson, Pezeshkian accused Netanyahu of pursuing his "own agenda" of "forever wars" in the Middle East and urged the United States not to be dragged into it. "The US administration should refrain from getting involved in a war that is not America's war, it is Netanyahu's war," he said. He added that his country has "no problem" restarting nuclear talks, provided that trust can be reestablished between the two countries. "We see no problem in re-entering the negotiations," the Iranian president said. "There is a condition ... for restarting the talks. How are we going to trust the United States again?" "We re-entered the negotiations, then 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 added that Iran would be open to US investments should sanctions on Tehran be lifted. "There is no limitation and nothing preventing the US investors to come to Iran and to make investments in Iran." Pezeshkian also warned that the US has two ways in front of it for dealing with Iran and the region: peace or war. "US President Mr. Trump is capable enough to guide the region towards peace and a brighter future and put Israel in its place or get into an endless pit or swamp and that is a war that Netanyahu wants the US or its president to be dragged into."
IOL News
11 hours ago
- IOL News
Gwamanda exposes Sibiya's alleged rogue network as the crisis within SAPS worsens
Deputy National Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya is accused of running a rogue intelligence operation within the City of Johannesburg. In a dramatic public statement released this week, Johannesburg Councillor Kabelo Gwamanda accused Deputy National Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya of running a rogue intelligence operation within the City of Johannesburg, unlawfully procuring surveillance equipment from Israeli contractors and using his position to target political opponents. Gwamanda's statement, issued in his capacity, laid out a chilling picture of institutional capture, political retaliation, and deep-rooted corruption inside the South African Police Service. Gwamanda, who briefly served as Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, alleges that during Sibiya's tenure as Group Head of the City's Forensic and Investigation Services (GFIS), the unit acquired intelligence-gathering tools through illegal channels, concealed damaging forensic reports, and weaponised law enforcement to protect political allies. 'This raises serious questions about political interference and institutional failure,' said Gwamanda, pointing to a 2022 criminal case he opened against former Mayor Mpho Phalatse, then-Speaker Vasco Da Gama, and the Democratic Alliance, which remains unresolved three years later. Gwamanda's warning was unambiguous: 'The appointment of Sibiya as Deputy Commissioner while he is under investigation is an affront to justice. The president must account for how such an appointment was made.' The councillor also described how, after raising alarms about the illegal operations within GFIS, he became the target of a 'politically motivated smear campaign' led by the same individuals he had accused. Gwamanda claims he was unlawfully arrested in October 2024 without a charge sheet, based on manipulated evidence allegedly manufactured by Sibiya and his allies. After 18 months, the charges were quietly withdrawn due to lack of evidence, but the damage to his reputation remained. His statement referenced recent developments in KwaZulu-Natal, commending Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi for speaking out against alleged interference by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and Sibiya. 'It is precisely this kind of leadership that victims of politically motivated persecution hope to see,' said Gwamanda. 'I now raise my voice on behalf of countless South Africans who suffer the miscarriage of justice, where victims rely on perpetrators for protection.' Mkhwanazi ignited national controversy on Sunday by accusing Mchunu and Sibiya of undermining critical police investigations into politically motivated killings. He claimed they disbanded a specialised task team without his knowledge and interfered directly with the operations of the KwaZulu-Natal SAPS. Mkhwanazi also presented screenshots of WhatsApp conversations between Mchunu and individuals linked to organised crime, suggesting an active relationship between the Minister and suspected criminal networks. His press conference was backed by armed officers in tactical gear, and his tone was unequivocal: South Africa's crime-fighting machinery is being systematically sabotaged from the top. Yet in the face of these revelations, forensic investigator Paul O'Sullivan launched a scathing counteroffensive — not against the accused officials, but against Mkhwanazi. In a media interview, O'Sullivan said he wanted Mkhwanazi 'to fall,' accusing the commissioner of abusing his position and violating the principle of civilian oversight of the police. This isn't O'Sullivan's first clash with SAPS leadership. Last week, he issued an ultimatum to National Commissioner Fannie Masemola to suspend officers recently arrested for corruption or face a court challenge. O'Sullivan claimed these arrests were the result of his 20-year anti-corruption crusade, during which he says he spent over R15 million of his funds and helped bring down two national commissioners and dozens of senior officers. But conspicuously missing from O'Sullivan's criticism is any meaningful scrutiny of Mchunu. Despite the minister being directly accused of colluding with crime syndicates, O'Sullivan has expressed confidence in his integrity. This has prompted some observers to ask a difficult question: Why is Paul O'Sullivan going out of his way to shield Mchunu?
