Iranian president responds to Trump: ‘There are no radicals or moderates’

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian responded to President Donald Trump, who said Thursday that the country’s hardline and moderate leaders are infighting over who will lead the Islamic Republic.

In a social media post, Pezeshkian noted that there are no moderates or “radicals” in Iran.

“In Iran, there are no radicals or moderates,” he wrote on X. “We are all ‘Iranian’ and ‘revolutionary,’ and with the iron unity of the nation and government, and complete obedience to the Supreme Leader of the Revolution, we will make the aggressor criminal regret his actions.”

Iran has only “the path” of victory, Pezeshkian added, which is “more precious than life.”

Former Special Representative for Iran Elliott Abrams said Thursday that President Donald Trump has been correct to highlight fractured decision-making in Tehran.

Abrams, who served in the role during Trump’s first term, also said the president was right to give the regime more time to “fight it out.”

“The President’s right. They’re having a power struggle,” Abrams said on “America’s Newsroom.”

“It used to be that any power struggle would be resolved by the Supreme Leader, the late Supreme Leader. Now they don’t really have a supreme leader. You know, they’ve got his son, but he’s invisible. He never speaks on radio.”

“He can’t really be leading, so they’re fighting it out,” he said.

“And I think the President’s idea of giving them a little more time because they’re fighting it out is right. He’s also right.”

Abrams added that the regime’s moderates “are not very moderate, so they’re going to have to figure out,” and said the regime has “lots of rivalries for power.