Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News host turned independent media personality, announced this weekend that he has interviewed Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and plans to air the conversation shortly.
The announcement comes at a time of heightened U.S.–Iran tensions following a series of strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
In a video message posted on X, Carlson said the interview was conducted remotely with a translator and would be released “in a day or two.”
He acknowledged that the decision would provoke criticism but framed the move as a defense of free speech and public access to information.
“When it comes to matters of war and peace, Americans have a right to hear from all sides,” Carlson said. He emphasized that the interview was not an endorsement, but rather an effort to “expand the corpus of knowledge” available to the public.
Our interview with the president of Iran.
Watch it first at https://t.co/sLkXnGLauL. pic.twitter.com/SY4KvgA1lb
— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) July 5, 2025
Carlson said he asked Iran’s president direct questions about the country’s goals, its stance toward Israel, and whether it seeks war with the United States.
He added that he deliberately avoided questions about the recent bombings of Iranian nuclear sites, arguing that Pezeshkian was unlikely to answer honestly.
The format appears to mirror Carlson’s earlier interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which drew widespread criticism for its lack of challenging questions.
Critics have again warned that giving a platform to a hostile foreign leader—especially one at odds with the U.S. government—risks spreading propaganda under the guise of journalism.
Carlson dismissed such concerns. “You don’t have to agree with someone to listen to them,” he said. “You just have to believe that truth emerges through access, not censorship.”
The timing of the interview is likely to amplify its political impact. President Trump is set to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington next week to coordinate a joint response to Iran’s nuclear program. Carlson, in turn, has extended an invitation to Netanyahu to appear on his show.
While it remains unclear how much influence the interview will have on public opinion, Carlson’s latest move further signals his ambition to position himself as a counterweight to mainstream media and traditional political narratives—regardless of the backlash.
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