Iranian president avoids tough talk in tame Moscow interview

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian praised Vladimir Putin in a Russian state TV interview for resisting the United States but carefully sidestepped provocative questions as his government broaches potential renewed US talks.

Iranian state-controlled media published an official account of the interview on Friday from his visit to Moscow last week, highlighting exchanges with Vladimir Solovyov, one of Russia’s most outspoken nationalist TV personalities.

When asked about his view of Putin, Pezeshkian expressed appreciation for the Russian president’s opposition to unilateralism, a term often used by the two heavily sanctioned and isolated powers to describe US policies.

“That sense within us, and among those who seek freedom and independence, grows stronger by the day. As a result, we feel this shared connection and closeness in our beliefs, and we will stand together,” Pezeshkian said, referring to Putin.

Addressing sanctions imposed by the United States on both Russia and Iran, Pezeshkian emphasized the significance of their partnership.

“The long-term strategic agreement we signed with the Russian Federation indicates that neither Russia nor Iran intends to succumb to the demands they seek to impose on us,” he remarked.

Pezeshkian posed a question of his own, asking whether Moscow and Tehran would cooperate in mutual defense if Iran were attacked by the United States or Israel.

“According to the terms of the agreement, it has been established that in the event of an attack on Iran or Russia by another country, we are committed to refraining from any form of cooperation with the aggressor and preventing such an occurrence," he answered.

Pezeshkian’s answer implied that the strategic treaty he signed with Putin is not an ironclad mutual defense pact, despite Iran's heavy supply of drones and other munitions to Russia for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The deliveries have been met with further US-led sanctions, deepening economic suffering in Iran which has led relative moderates in the country to call for renewed talks with the United States over Tehran's disputed nuclear program.

Solovyov posed a sharp question, asking why the Islamic Republic shows such restraint despite the United States imposing "terroristic sanctions" and Israel directly targeting its officials and interests.

While Pezeshkian condemned Israel, his response was measured, launching into an extended monologue about the peaceful nature of religions and prophets.

Solovyov persisted with his line of questioning, asking Pezeshkian for his thoughts on “the recent developments in the region and the Americans' efforts to create instability along Iran's borders.”

“As I mentioned earlier, the conflict is fundamentally about truth versus falsehood and justice versus injustice,” Pezeshkian replied, continuing into an extended philosophical reply.

Like Ankara and Moscow aspiring to rebuild their Ottoman and Russian empires, Iran was one of the world’s oldest empires, Pezeshkian said, which ruled vast territories but respected local customs and traditions and giving authority to local elites.

Pezeshkian went on to deny that the Islamic Republic has ever engaged in violent actions or encouraged and supported war in the region. However, a countdown clock in Tehran still prominently displays the purported timeline for Israel’s destruction.

The president had sounded a dovish tone in an interview with US news channel NBC in an interview in Tehran the same week.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran is committed to peace and de-escalation in the region and globally, condemns the Zionist regime's war-mongering, aggression, and genocide, and stands ready for honorable and equal negotiations," he said.