Negotiation and war comments draw hardliner backlash
Outlets reported that Masoud Pezeshkian's remarks favoring de-escalation and talks, from New York 2024 through August 2025, triggered denials or sharp criticism from hardline figures and media.
Editorial timeline of public reporting, not a legal finding.
- Pezeshkian in New York: we do not want to fight; weapons quote row - BBC Persian reported the president told U.S. journalists Iran does not want war. Bloomberg and an audio clip were cited saying he would put down arms if Israel did; Foreign Minister Araqchi and the government information council strongly denied that quote. جنجال بر سر اظهارات مسعود پزشکیان؛ ما آمادهایم سلاحهایمان را کنار بگذاریم اگر اسرائیل هم کنار بگذارد
- Pezeshkian: I favored talks; Leader said no U.S. negotiation - BBC Persian reported that during the economy minister impeachment session the president said he preferred dialogue but would follow Ali Khamenei after the Leader barred talks with the U.S. The report noted the government's sharper rejection after Trump's maximum-pressure order. پزشکیان: من موافق مذاکره بودم، رهبری گفت با آمریکا مذاکره نکنیم
- Want to fight? They will strike again; hardliner backlash - BBC Persian reported Pezeshkian on 10 Aug 2025 said dialogue is not surrender and asked what fighting would achieve. IRGC political officials, MP Hamid Rasaee, Kayhan's Hossein Shariatmadari and Tasnim called the remarks weakness or passivity. واکنش تند اصولگرایان به تغییر موضع پزشکیان درباره برنامه هستهای پس از جنگ ۱۲ روزه