Iranian President: Previous Attacks During Negotiations Have Caused ‘Complete Distrust’ in US
Reflecto News | Breaking News | Iran-US Relations
TEHRAN — Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared on Thursday that the United States has lost all credibility with the Islamic Republic, citing past American strikes during ongoing diplomatic talks as the reason for “complete distrust” just as the two nations remain locked in a bitter war and a fragile ceasefire.
“Previous attacks during negotiations have caused ‘complete distrust’ in US.”
— Masoud Pezeshkian, President of Iran
While Pezeshkian did not specify a particular event, his statement likely refers to the U.S. airstrikes on February 28 that destroyed Iran’s nuclear facilities, killing the country’s outgoing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei (father of the current leader) and triggering the devastating two-month war .
It could also relate to various “decapitation strikes” carried out on March 3 targeting IRGC commanders, which Iran claims took place while diplomats were trying to reach a ceasefire in the first week of March .
Pezezškian is widely considered a “moderate” and “pragmatist” within Iran’s political system. Even he is stating that the US has zero credibility, showing that the hardliners (who control the IRGC) have hardened Tehran’s position across the board.
🧩 The ‘Behind the Scenes’ Diplomacy Context
Pezeshkian’s comment comes days after Iran submitted a new three-phase proposal to end the war, which was quickly rejected by the Trump administration because it delayed nuclear talks . Iran recently asked for “several days” to consult with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei before submitting a revised proposal .
While Trump has stated that “nobody knows who’s in charge” in Tehran, Pezeshkian is sending a message: that the US is the unpredictable party, that Washington has a track record of bombing first and negotiating later, and that Tehran has no reason to trust any American promise of a “permanent ceasefire.”
🔎 The ‘Red Line’ Mistrust
The “complete distrust” Pezeshkian speaks of makes any nuclear deal nearly impossible. For any agreement to work, the US and Europe need to provide Iran with “guarantees” that sanctions will be lifted and the West will not re-impose them or attack again . Tehran does not trust these guarantees. The US, similarly, does not trust Iran to abide by a deal; it has demanded a 20-year “sunset” clause and intrusive IAEA inspections, which Iran views as “occupation.”
🇮🇷 Pezeshkian’s Domestic Audience
Pezeshkian is also speaking to his domestic critics: the IRGC hardliners who never wanted him to negotiate with the West at all. By publicly declaring that the US is untrustworthy, Pezeshkian is immunizing himself against accusations that he is a “US puppet” or a “traitor” . He is telling Iranians that he sees the US as the enemy, that he has no illusions, and that any deal will not be based on trust, but on verifiable, on-the-ground changes (the lifting of the blockade).
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