Daily Caller News Foundation co-founder Tucker Carlson asked Iranian President Mosoud Pezeshkian during an interview released Monday to urge Iranians in the United States not to commit violence on American soil, but he neglected to do so.
The U.S. struck Iran’s nuclear sites in June, sparking worries that Iran may orchestrate attacks against Americans with undercover agents. When Carlson noted that there have been warnings about Iranian sleeper cells, Pezeshkian professed ignorance during the interview and dismissed the possibility Iranians would attack Americans in the U.S.
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“There are a number, some large number, of Iranian nationals living in the United States. Some have said they are, quote, sleeper cells. They are terrorists who are acting at the command of your government,” Carlson said. “Would you right now make a statement to Iranian citizens living in the United States not to commit acts of violence in the United States?”
Rather than take the opportunity Carlson provided, Pezeshkian claimed he had never even heard about this issue and denied Iranians would ever be violent.
“You see, these things you’re telling me — this is the first time I’m hearing them from you or from anybody. You know, Iranians are known for their knowledge, for their science, for their courtesy, for being civilized,” he said. “Have you seen otherwise from them — any other kind of behavior from them, or any violent behavior? Has anybody ever seen anything from them? Yeah, as I said, this is what Israel is trying to put into your minds. You’re propagating that Iranians might be capable of doing such a thing.”
“But this is totally untrue, because by nature, Iranians are pro-peace and tranquility. And they’re trying to actually make — to somehow impact the minds of the decision-makers and the people of the United States and to scare them into getting involved in a war in my region that is not going to ensure any kind of interest for the United States,” he continued. “It is not to be in the interest of the United States to be involved in any kind of war in my region.”
Iran threatened to activate sleeper cells in America days before the strike, two U.S. officials told NBC News.
Moreover, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a memo cautioning of a “heightened threat environment” in light of the attacks, warning that Iranian government affiliates could launch terrorist attacks.
“The likelihood of violent extremists in the Homeland independently mobilizing to violence in response to the conflict would likely increase if Iranian leadership issued a religious ruling calling for retaliatory violence against targets in the Homeland,” the memo read. “Multiple recent Homeland terrorist attacks have been motivated by anti-Semitic or anti-Israel sentiment, and the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict could contribute to U.S.-based individuals plotting additional attacks.”
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