Iran's New President Offers Israel Peace As He Warns It Drags Him into War

Iran's Newly Elected Leader Extends Olive Branch to Israel While Cautioning Against Conflict Escalation

During his inaugural press conference with international media since assuming office in August, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian proposed a ceasefire to Israel amidst escalating regional tensions, while simultaneously cautioning that Israel was attempting to provoke a larger regional conflict.

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Speaking to journalists on the fringes of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Pezeshkian stated, "we are prepared to set aside all our armaments, provided Israel is willing to reciprocate." He then criticized international entities that have become increasingly involved in regional matters, asserting that "we cannot permit external actors to intervene, heavily arming one party while denying the other the means to protect themselves."

These statements were made as Iran continues to pledge retaliation for the assassination of Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in Tehran shortly after Pezeshkian's inauguration in late July. The President confirmed that the attack "will not go without consequences," though he urged caution against actions that could be perceived as escalatory from his government, stating "we do not wish to be the source of regional instability" and "all parties suffer" if such a conflict erupts.

He contended that Haniyeh's assassination and other actions attributed to Israel "were baits laid by Israel to cowardly draw us into" a regional conflict looming over the ongoing war in Gaza. The Iranian president also criticized the United States for its repeated promises of peace despite seemingly stalled Israel-Hamas negotiations.

"We attempted to refrain from retaliating [to Haniyeh's killing]," Pezeshkian stated. "They repeatedly assured us that peace was within reach, perhaps in a matter of days. Yet, this elusive peace remained out of grasp. Daily, Israel perpetrates more atrocities and claims more lives, be they elderly, young, male, female, children, hospitals, or other facilities."

While Pezeshkian argued that Iran had shown restraint in its previous, unprecedented strike against Israel in April in response to the killing of high-ranking Iranian military officials at a consular building in Syria, he maintained that Iran remained capable of penetrating Israel's defense systems, including the Iron Dome, to inflict even more extensive damage.

In response to Newsweek's inquiry about the current state of Iran's deterrence against Israeli attacks on Iranian personnel and its Axis of Resistance allies, including Lebanon's Hezbollah, Pezeshkian questioned, "Must we strike something with these capabilities to prove our competence?"

"Regarding the Iron Dome constructed in Israel, America, France, and numerous other countries contributed to that so-called Iron Dome, yet it was still breached," Pezeshkian stated. "What further evidence do they require?"

"It wasn't Israel alone; everyone was backing Israel. We never intended to target densely populated civilian areas. We demonstrated that we could, but we chose not to," he added. "Now they suggest we lack such capabilities because we opted to conduct ourselves in a certain manner, in a humane and ethical way? This is illogical."

Israeli officials lauded a high interception rate against a barrage of hundreds of missiles and drones launched by Iran and its Axis of Resistance allies against Israel at the time. Other nations, including the U.S., France, and Jordan, also supported efforts to intercept the long-range projectiles.

Now, with the region once again on edge since Haniyeh's death nearly two months ago and an intensifying conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, Pezeshkian reiterated that "we will deliver our response at the appropriate time and place."

"I hope that the international community does not attempt to push us into a position where we are compelled to demonstrate a reaction that is beneath us," Pezeshkian stated.

Pezeshkian denied having direct control over Hezbollah and other allied militias, such as Yemen's Ansar Allah, or the Houthi movement, but expressed support for "any group that seeks to defend its legitimate rights."

He also refuted reports citing U.S. intelligence suggesting Iran had recently agreed to provide ballistic missiles to Russia for use in its war in Ukraine, stating that his administration "has not and will not" do so and that "we have not endorsed Russian aggression against Ukrainian territory."

In both the cases of Gaza and Ukraine, Pezeshkian argued that resolution must come "through dialogue" and such issues "cannot be resolved through bloodshed."

Meanwhile, violence has only intensified in the region as Israel conducted one of its most severe rounds of strikes across Lebanon, resulting in an estimated 274 fatalities. The strikes follow a barrage of Hezbollah attacks that come in the wake of the assassination of the group's special forces chief and a series of explosions that damaged communications equipment used by the group last week, killing dozens and injuring thousands.

Israel has pledged to facilitate the return of tens of thousands of people evacuated from northern communities due to cross-border violence that has accompanied the war in Gaza since its outbreak last October. In addition to strikes, Israeli officials have also repeatedly alluded to the possibility of a ground invasion, a prospect Iranian officials have warned against and Hezbollah has stated it is prepared to confront.