Iran has endured a punishing year marked by drought, an energy crisis and soaring inflation. But if Iranians were hoping their president might offer solutions, Pezeshkian suggested they should not bother. In a string of remarkably candid public speeches in recent weeks, he said the country was facing insurmountable problems and that he had run out of ideas for how to solve them.

"If anyone can do something, please go ahead and do it," Pezeshkian told students and academics in early December. "I can't do anything. Don't curse me."

In meetings with officials, he admitted the government was "stuck, badly stuck," adding: "From the first day we came in, disasters have been coming down on us, and it hasn't stopped."

He went further, saying Iran's woes were the result of corruption, internal factional infighting and decades of government spending that he described as "what crazy people do," rather than the fault of the US or Israel.

Referring to the fighting during Operation With a Lion, Pezeshkian said that although Iran had launched missiles, Israel's arsenal had proven superior both in quantity and in capability.

"It's true that we had missiles, but theirs were more numerous, more powerful, more accurate and easier to deploy," he said. He added, without elaborating, that in the end it was "the people" who thwarted Israel.

At the same time, Pezeshkian rejected calls for Iran to scale back its missile program, describing it as essential to national defense. "They tell us not to have missiles, while they arm Israel to the teeth so it can come here whenever it wants, destroy everything and leave," he said. "I won't accept that."

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The president spoke extensively, declaring, "There is no water in the rivers, in the wells, and in the dams – the water crisis is more severe than ever. The crisis could shut down the country across all sectors." He enumerated a host of other problems, including shortages of electricity, cooking and heating gas, and rampant inflation that official sources now concede has long surpassed 50%. Pezeshkian stressed that Iran is out of options and must perform "difficult surgery on the body of the state."

In a stunning rebuke of the regime's core values, the Iranian president attacked the forced imposition of the hijab, arguing that values must be instilled through education, not coercion. In another extraordinary remark that sounded like capitulation, he asserted that Israel possesses vast intelligence on senior Iranian officials and key facilities. He added that should Iran attempt to rebuild its missile and nuclear programs, Israel would immediately bomb them, causing the entire investment to vanish into thin air.

To a Western observer, such statements might seem logical, even commendable, from a leader warning of collapse and detailing the impact of American sanctions which, he said, "have reduced Iranian revenues to a minimum and collapsed the economy, which cannot be restored in the short term." In revolutionary Iran, however, these are shocking words from the man who is nominally second only to the Supreme Leader, who dictates the agenda on military expansion, terror funding, and the nuclear program.

Although the president peppered his speech with assurances of his obedience to the Leader, the very act of exposing Iran's grave condition is an extraordinary event. In the Iran of Leader Ali Khamenei, it has been forbidden since the 1990s to complain about the state of affairs, even when everyone knows "the emperor has no clothes." Detailing the problems, as the president did, is simply not done.

It is important to remember this is not Pezeshkian's first such move; he has detailed Iran's challenges in past speeches. This time, however, was exceptional by any measure, provoking the fury of the Supreme Leader's messengers in the conservative media.

Immediately following the president's defeatist address, the Tasnim website, an outlet affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, attacked him. It insisted such statements undermine Iran's leverage in any future negotiations and harm the national interest by broadcasting weakness and confirming Israeli and US superiority. The daily Vatan-e Emrooz, another IRGC-linked paper, blared a massive headline calling the speech an "Own Goal!" Members of parliament joined the chorus, accusing him of weakening Iran's standing.

Video: PM Netanyahu speaks to the Iranians about water / Credit: GPO

Indeed, the criticism from the regime's most powerful institution – the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps – grew progressively harsher. It culminated in the force's ideological officer issuing a mafia-style threat, warning the president "not to tell the truth in public, especially regarding Iran's foreign and security policy, because these are things that can backfire on the members of the government and its head!"

The Iranian public, which endures all the problems the president listed, remained largely indifferent to the speech, having carried these burdens for years. For them, it was not new information. The regime, however, is terrified. It fears that if the president continues to expose its weaknesses, he could embolden the public, leading to unrest that, if it escalates, could threaten the regime's very existence.

This is almost certainly why, since the war with Israel concluded, the regime has offered a social "discount" to women, largely ceasing enforcement of hijab and modesty laws. It has also actively disseminated propaganda on platforms like TikTok, showing a united Iran where citizens are free in their private lives, with videos of couples walking hand-in-hand, some with the hijab and some without.

Meanwhile, as if oblivious to the existential challenges at home, senior IRGC officials have resumed their threats in recent days, vowing revenge against Israel and the US and promising to deliver a blow from which Israel will not recover if it dares to attack again. It remains unclear, and highly unlikely, that the regime could launch such an attack unprovoked. Many analysts believe the threats are born of fear that Israel will strike first, and the bellicose rhetoric is merely an attempt at deterrence.

Yet, nothing in the statements from IRGC spokesmen suggests they are aware of Iran's internal crises. With the Supreme Leader's advisory circle now dominated by security figures, it is imperative to act with vigilance and caution, watching for any signs that they might persuade him to launch an attack on Israel – a move he himself is likely not eager to make.

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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was lightly injured in the legs during a June 16 strike in Tehran, according to a report Sunday by Fars News Agency, which is affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The report said several other senior officials were also wounded during a high-level meeting in the capital.

The attack reportedly occurred in a building in western Tehran where Pezeshkian, the speaker of parliament and the judiciary chief were meeting in an underground floor. The strike involved the firing of multiple missiles and the detonation of explosives, targeting both the meeting site and its escape routes.

According to the report, the assault appeared to mimic tactics attributed to the alleged Israeli operation that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, suggesting an Israeli signature in its execution. Six missiles were reportedly fired to block escape paths and disrupt electricity and air circulation in the building. Though the explosions caused a blackout, the officials managed to flee through a pre-planned emergency exit. Some, including the president, were slightly wounded while escaping.

Last week, Pezeshkian claimed in an interview with US political commentator Tucker Carlson that Israel had attempted to assassinate him during last month's war between the two countries.

Speaking via video call with a translator, Pezeshkian said, "It was Israel" that tried to kill him, not the US. "I was in a meeting, we were discussing how to move forward. But thanks to their spies, they tried to bomb the area where we were gathered," he said.

The Iranian president added, "As a true believer, I trust that only God Almighty determines when a person lives or dies," and insisted he was "not afraid to sacrifice myself to defend the country."

During the same interview, Pezeshkian accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of sabotaging negotiations with the US. "We were in the middle of negotiations with the US, and the president had invited us to talk for peace. We were told that as long as we didn't give Israel permission, they wouldn't strike us. We were very close to holding the next round [of talks]," he said.

"But in the middle of it, Israel suddenly sabotaged the negotiating table. We were sitting at the table when it happened," Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian claimed.

Pezeshkian also denied that Iran seeks to acquire nuclear weapons, asserting, "We have never pursued the development of a nuclear bomb - not in the past, not today, and not in the future." He added that, according to fatwas issued by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, "it is religiously forbidden for us." According to Pezeshkian, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has created a "false narrative" since 1984 claiming that Iran is seeking a nuclear bomb.

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Speaking through a translator, Pezeshkian asserted, "It was not the United States that was behind the attempt on my life. It was Israel. I was in a meeting, they tried to bombard the area in which we were holding that meeting."

Pezeshkian also accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of sabotaging peace negotiations with the US. "We were in the middle of talks with the US. The president had invited us to negotiate for peace. They told us that as long as we didn't give the green light to Israel, they wouldn't attack us. We were supposed to hold the next round very soon," he said.

"But in the middle of it, suddenly Israel upended the negotiating table. We were at the table when it happened," he said.

Pezeshkian denied that Iran seeks to develop nuclear weapons, stating, "We have never pursued the development of a nuclear bomb - neither in the past, nor today, nor in the future." Citing fatwas by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, he said it was "religiously forbidden" for Iran. He accused Netanyahu of fostering a "false mentality" since 1984 that Iran is seeking the bomb.

Addressing chants of "Death to America," Pezeshkian explained, "When they say 'Death to America,' they don't mean death to the American people or its officials. They mean death to crimes, death to killing and massacres, death to support for the killing of others."

He also denied any Iranian involvement in alleged plots to assassinate former US President Donald Trump, claiming, "That's what Netanyahu is trying to make your people or your president believe."

Pezeshkian addressed Iran's decision to halt cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), saying that "somehow we realized Israel was able to obtain information from the IAEA's inspections." He added, "There was a lack of trust following the IAEA's latest report, the type of report and the way it was drafted somehow gave the Israeli regime an excuse and paved the way for its illegal attack on our nuclear facilities."

He further claimed that even after that, "the IAEA failed to condemn those attacks or attempt to stop them," leading to "widespread distrust among Iranian lawmakers and public opinion."

On Iranian citizens in the US

Asked about allegations of "Iranian sleeper cells" in the US, Pezeshkian responded, "This is the first time I'm hearing this from you or anyone. Iranians are known for their knowledge, science, manners and culture. Have you ever seen them act violently?"

He continued, "This is what Israel is trying to plant in your minds. You're spreading the idea that Iranians might be capable of such things. But it's completely false, by nature, Iranians are pro-peace and harmony."

Regarding reports of a fatwa against Trump, he clarified, "To the best of my knowledge, no decree or fatwa was issued against anyone or against Donald Trump. This has nothing to do with the Iranian government or with the honorable Supreme Leader." He said the fatwa was "in fact meant as a condemnation of insults to religion or religious figures."

Carlson: "Americans deserve to know"

Carlson explained the timing of the interview by saying, "We know we'll be attacked just for conducting this interview, but we did it because American citizens deserve to know what's happening, especially when it's being done in their name and with their money."

He said he avoided questions unlikely to receive credible answers, such as whether Iran's nuclear program was destroyed in the US strike known as "Operation Midnight Hammer." Instead, he focused on direct questions: "What is your goal? Do you seek war with the US? With Israel?"

Carlson also revealed that he had submitted a third request in recent months to interview Prime Minister Netanyahu, but had yet to receive a response.

The interview comes amid widening rifts within the MAGA movement, between nationalist isolationists and neoconservatives pushing a hard line on Iran.

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Iran's presidential election has ended in a runoff, with voter turnout plummeting to a record-low 40%, signaling growing disillusionment with the Islamic Republic's political system. As the country prepares for a second round of voting, Western hopes for a reformist victory appear increasingly illusory while the regime continues to consolidate power both domestically and regionally.

The inconclusive first round marks another blow to the regime's legitimacy. Voter participation fell to just 40%, down from 48% in 2021 and 73% in 2017. No candidate secured a majority, forcing a runoff.

The Iranian public's disenchantment is palpable. All candidates answer to the de facto ruler, with three hailing from the reform-averse conservative faction. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's political theater, which truly dictates foreign and security policies, has lost its veneer of authenticity. Social media even joked that Khamenei cast his vote for his son Mojtaba, his presumed successor.

Yet despite waning enthusiasm, the turnout suggests that while the republic's internal legitimacy falters, the government's grip remains firm. A significant base still accepts the status quo. This is bolstered by the Revolutionary Guards, 150,000 to 200,000 strong, alongside the Basij, a civilian auxiliary force millions strong, tasked with quashing dissent.

Western powers, however, cling to electoral hopes. Many policymakers root for reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian, seen as potentially amenable to a new nuclear deal. The US and EU persist in seeking "peace in our time" with a regime known for its brutality and corruption. Western diplomats might tout a postponed nuclear threat as a victory, even as Tehran advances its conventional military capabilities.

Pezeshkian could play the perfect role in an Iranian charm offensive. The physician-turned-politician advocates for Western engagement to boost Iran's economy – music to Washington and Brussels' ears. For Khamenei, presenting a palatable political figure is strategically convenient, especially after April's brazen attack on Israel. A veneer of moderation could soothe both international tensions and domestic unrest.

This development underscores the election's limited impact. The July 5 runoff won't determine Iran's true leader. In reality, the victor will simply become Khamenei's highest-ranking official, as the Supreme Leader retains ultimate control.

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