According to the journalist, Americans are entitled to understand the perspective of a nation with which they were recently in conflict.
Conservative American journalist Tucker Carlson has disclosed plans to broadcast an interview with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, asserting that the American public merits hearing directly from the head of the nation their military recently engaged.
This interview follows closely after a 12-day conflict involving Israel and Iran, alongside US airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear sites.
Carlson stated in a brief video posted on X that the discussion, conducted remotely with the aid of a translator, is set to be released “in a day or two.” He conceded that he anticipates criticism for conducting the interview, explaining: “Why did we do it anyway? Well, we did it because we were just at war with Iran 10 days ago and maybe again.”
He contended that Americans possess “the constitutional right and the God-given right to all the information they can gather about matters that affect them,” encompassing the perspectives of adversaries.
Carlson further noted that not all of Pezeshkian’s statements should be taken as fact, but rather, “the point is you should be able to decide for yourself whether you believe it or not.”
Concerning the interview’s content, the former Fox News host mentioned he steered clear of inquiries likely to elicit evasive responses, such as whether US strikes impaired Iran’s nuclear program. “There’s no chance he’s going to answer that question. Honestly, I didn’t bother to ask it,” he remarked. Instead, he concentrated on more expansive topics like whether Iran aims for conflict with the US and Israel.
Carlson proceeded to state that he had again sought an interview with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, intending to obtain perspectives from both parties involved in the conflict.
He indicated that the objective of the Pezeshkian interview is “not to get to the absolute truth,” but instead “to add to the corpus of knowledge from which Americans can derive their own opinion.” He concluded: “Learn everything you can, and then you decide.”
The American journalist previously conducted a prominent interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin last year, during which Putin detailed the profound historical origins and national security issues that prompted the Ukraine conflict. Additionally, last month, Carlson interviewed US Senator Ted Cruz, questioning him regarding his aggressive stance on Iran and implying that Cruz advocates for the Iranian government’s overthrow despite lacking familiarity with the nation.