Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian denies Iran's intention to assassinate Trump and talks about Khamenei's health during his visit to New York

(CNN) - Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s media appearances inside Iran are subject to strict control and careful regulation, but he sat on Thursday to answer questions from a group of journalists in New York. He visits the city - despite being the leader of a country at war with the United States - under the protection of the American Secret Service.

During the session, which dealt with multiple issues - and came after one of his speeches before the United Nations General Assembly - Pezeshkian reiterated the usual Iranian positions on the war, the nuclear program, and internal opposition in Iran. He also spoke about the impact of sanctions on the Iranian people, and claimed that Iran would never try to kill Donald Trump, despite the American president and the American authorities accusing the Iranian regime of planning to assassinate him.

These statements came at the "Milin Hilton" hotel, located very close to the United Nations headquarters, where the Iranian president announced on Wednesday that his country "will not submit" in light of the continuing war with the United States.

In the press briefing, Pezeshkian also spoke about recent meetings he held with Iranian Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not appeared in public since the beginning of the war - noting that the guide enjoys "very good health."

Speculation about Khamenei's health has escalated in recent months, after reports emerged that he was seriously injured in the US-Israeli attack that killed his father and predecessor, Ali Khamenei, at the beginning of the conflict in February.

Speaking about Khamenei’s condition, Pazashkian said: “I did not notice any major health or physical problems,” adding that the last direct meeting between them took place about a month ago and lasted about 7 hours.

Bazashkian stated that they sat on cushions placed on the floor, and that they would walk and move around during the meeting.

US intelligence estimates - according to what multiple sources familiar with the intelligence reported in May - indicate that Khamenei, despite his injuries, still plays a pivotal role in formulating the war strategy alongside senior Iranian officials.

Meeting in Manhattan

The presence of an Iranian delegation in a country with which it is still at war is practically unprecedented, but the scene took on an increasingly unorthodox character Thursday, when Iranian President and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi held a press briefing - attended by CNN reporters and others - in a hotel room in Manhattan's Midtown area.

A US State Department official said earlier this week that the visiting Iranian delegation “was allowed to enter the United States exclusively for the purpose of representing the Islamic Republic of Iran before the United Nations,” and that they should “limit their activities to missions related to the United Nations only.”

He explained that Iranians must "request prior approval" from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs if they wish to travel outside the perimeter of the United Nations headquarters, John F. Kennedy International Airport, or the facilities of the Iranian mission to the United Nations.

During the press briefing, Pezeshkian denied the accusations that Iran was seeking to kill the US President, stressing that “the Iranian government’s position was not - whether publicly or secretly - seeking to assassinate Trump or members of his family.”

Last month, the US Secret Service announced that it was aware of a video clip broadcast by the Iranian state broadcaster, which appeared to threaten the life of Barron Trump, the US president's youngest son.

This came after Israel shared intelligence information with the United States indicating that Iran had developed a plan to assassinate Donald Trump. In late 2024, the US Department of Justice announced federal charges related to what it described as a foiled Iranian plot to kill Trump before the presidential election.

Extremist Iranian media has repeatedly published content threatening the lives of Trump and his family.

During a memorial service for the late Khamenei in July, regime loyalists were seen carrying signs with the words “Kill Trump” written on them.

Trump has also spoken publicly about Iranian threats to his life, saying in July: "I'm on a list...and so far, I think I've been kind of lucky, but maybe it won't last long. They're evil, sick people."

In response to Pezeshkian's statements, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said: "The Iranian regime has killed thousands of its own people, killed Americans abroad, carried out terrorist acts in the Strait of Hormuz, and launched indiscriminate attacks against its neighbors in the region."

“The President is working courageously to ensure that such an evil nation never possesses a nuclear weapon, which will make the entire world safer and more stable,” Kelly added.

Pezeshkian also discussed the internal challenges facing Iran; US sanctions and the ongoing war have strangled the country's economy, causing high prices and shortages of basic goods.

The Iranian economy was in dire straits even before the outbreak of war, and these poor conditions were a major factor behind the anti-regime demonstrations that began in the Iranian capital, Tehran, in 2025.

He told reporters: "We have problems; difficult problems in an unprecedented way," describing the US sanctions as a "silent, deadly campaign."

Similar to his speech that he delivered on Wednesday before world leaders, Pezeshkian seemed confident - during this briefing - that Iran “will prevail despite the challenges facing his country.” He also stressed that the American bases in the region “are considered legitimate targets, given their use in launching attacks against Iran,” and he claimed: “Most of the American bases in the region are no longer fit for use.”

It is noteworthy that Iranian strikes damaged and destroyed hundreds of buildings and facilities at American bases spread across the Middle East during the first months of the war, according to an official report issued by a oversight body affiliated with the Ministry of Defense (Pentagon) earlier this month.

“Of course, the United States has the ability to destroy anything anywhere, but it is impossible to force Iran to surrender,” Pezeshkian said.