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Iranian President Addresses Trump Assassination Claims and Nuclear Stance

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Iran has never tried to assassinate US President-elect Donald Trump, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Wednesday.
Sputnik
"This is another one of those schemes that Israel and other countries are designing to promote Iranophobia. ... Iran has never attempted to nor does it plan to assassinate anyone. At least as far as I know," Pezeshkian told the NBC news broadcaster.
Iran has never plotted to assassinate Trump and has no plans to do so in the future, the president added.
Trump earlier accused Iran of what he called specific steps against him, adding that "the entire US military is watching and waiting."

On Trump's Role in Middle East Conflict

"I do hope that Trump will conduce to peace in the region and the world, not conversely, contribute to bloodshed and war," the president said.
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On Possible US-Israeli Attack

When asked about Tehran's response to a possible US-Israeli attack aimed at halting the Iranian nuclear program, Pezeshkian said that the country is ready for any development.
"Naturally enough, we will react to any action. We do not fear war, but we do not seek it," the president said.
He also expressed hope that the situation would not deteriorate that far, as an open conflict would be "detrimental" to all actors.

On Nuclear Weapons

The president emphasized that the country does not seek to build nuclear weapons, though Iran is accused of creating it.
"We upheld all the commitments that we had to commit to," he said when asked about Iran's talks with major powers about its nuclear program. "But unfortunately, it was the other party that did not live up to its promises and obligations."
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