Pezeshkian tells CBS Khamenei is 'completely healthy'

• Pezeshkian cited deep distrust toward Washington, but confirmed Iran will honor its plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if accepted. Nuclear
• He pledged to permit UN nuclear inspectors into Iran, reiterating that building nuclear weapons remains religiously forbidden.
• Speaking as a physician, Pezeshkian affirmed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is fully healthy following recovery.
• He rejected claims that Iranian leaders governed from bomb shelters, maintaining operations continued normally.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated in an interview with CBS News' "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on Friday that an "atmosphere of distrust" complicates direct relations with the United States, while affirming Iran's commitment to abide by its latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

When asked whether he was willing to meet directly with US President Donald Trump during the United Nations General Assembly in New York -an idea floated by Trump- Pezeshkian indicated he would first need clarity on exact negotiation goals.

He pointed to a history of US military strikes against Iran occurring in the middle of ongoing diplomatic negotiations.

"As long as they don't cease doing what they're imposing on us every day, it's difficult to trust them," Pezeshkian told CBS News. "Every day, they increase the sanctions against us. Every day, they threaten us. Every day, they strike us. And they don't honor what they have put in writing. So if they engage in talks, will they actually follow through?"

Iran agrees to allow nuclear inspectors 

Addressing the nuclear file, Pezeshkian confirmed to Brennan that Iran would allow International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) nuclear inspectors back into the country as part of broader negotiations.

When Brennan highlighted past instances where UN inspectors were denied full access and pressed whether weapons inspectors would be permitted now, Pezeshkian repeatedly confirmed: "That is absolutely correct."

"If they wish to come in and have inspections, we can reach accords and agreements vis-à-vis that specific topic within the negotiations," Pezeshkian added.

Simultaneously, Pezeshkian denied that Iran harbors ambitions to construct a nuclear weapon, referencing religious prohibitions.

"Developing nuclear weapons is haram," Pezeshkian stated, using the Islamic term for forbidden. "Religiously speaking, they are not allowed to pursue that path."

Update on Mojtaba 

Pezeshkian also addressed questions regarding Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not made public appearances since the US-'Israeli' attack that killed his father, former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, earlier this year.

Speaking in his capacity as a medical physician, Pezeshkian stated that the new supreme leader has recovered from face and leg injuries and has "no specific ongoing health issues or challenges."

Pezeshkian disclosed that he recently met twice with Khamenei, including one session lasting over seven hours where they discussed state affairs alongside a six-member consultative team comprising security, parliamentary, and government officials.

Addressing observations about operating in a country actively at war, Pezeshkian rejected assertions that Iranian leadership conducted governance from bomb shelters.

"We were not in a shelter a few months ago," Pezeshkian told CBS. "How did we manage the country? It's not as if we were in a shelter. If we were in a shelter, nothing would have gotten done."