Iran live updates: Major atmosphere of mistrust,' Iranian president tells journalists

The Iranian president provided remarks to a small group of journalists. President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting military, government and infrastructure sites. Delegations from the U.S. and Iran entered negotiations in June aimed at a war-ending deal based on a memorandum of understanding signed by both countries. Those talks broke down as the U.S. and Iran continued to exchange strikes, with the strategic Strait of Hormuz as the primary flashpoint. Trump then said in August that the U.S. would launch a "crushing economic operation" to force Tehran into submission. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told journalists Thursday there is a "major atmosphere of mistrust" between the U.S. and Iran, but that "we are ready for a trust-building relationship." After Iran's president addressed the U.N. General Assembly in New York, he provided remarks to a small group of journalists, including ABC News' Martha Raddatz. "We struggle to understand why America attacked Iran," he said. "We don't want a nuclear weapon," adding, "President Trump says the U.S. obliterated the program, so why do they need to inspect?" But he said, "We are willing to have inspectors."

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