Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that he met privately with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei approximately one month ago for several hours, describing the leader as “completely” healthy and actively directing the Iranian leadership. The remarks were made during a Fox News interview with Bret Baier that aired Thursday evening.
“The implementation of policies rests with the administration and the government, but the consultations and directions emanate from there [the Supreme Leader],” Pezeshkian said.
Khamenei has not appeared publicly since the onset of the war, when he succeeded his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, following the latter’s assassination.
Pezeshkian previously asserted in August on Iranian state television that he had met with Mojtaba Khamenei for seven hours to discuss issues including affordability, unemployment, sanctions, national unity, and wartime resilience.
In Thursday’s interview, Pezeshkian indicated that Iran remains “willing and still wish[es] to move forward” with the peace agreement signed with the United States, which collapsed in July.
“We do not seek war. Rather, whenever they attack us, we are forced to defend ourselves. We never initiated a war. But if they wish to continue fighting, we will respond strongly and resolutely,” Pezeshkian said.
Iran is also prepared to dilute its highly enriched uranium and has never sought a nuclear weapon, according to Pezeshkian.
“Our martyred esteemed supreme leader announced several times that, per religious decree, it is unholy and religiously illegal to possess weapons of mass destruction,” Pezeshkian said.
When questioned why nuclear materials had not been inspected by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and were reportedly stored beneath Pickaxe Mountain, Pezeshkian attributed the lack of access to U.S. military activity, which he said has prevented the UN watchdog from conducting investigations since 2025.
