Hours before US President Donald Trump’s scheduled address on the Middle East conflict, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian released an open letter addressed to the American public, seeking to counter prevailing narratives about Iran and its role in global affairs. In the message, he firmly rejected the portrayal of Iran as a security threat, arguing that such claims are inconsistent with both historical evidence and present-day realities.
Pezeshkian described Iran as one of the world’s oldest continuous civilisations, emphasising that throughout its modern history, the country has not pursued aggression, expansion, or colonial ambitions. Instead, he maintained that Iran has consistently acted in self-defence when confronted with external threats. He stressed that the Iranian people do not hold hostility toward ordinary citizens of other nations, including Americans, and that they distinguish clearly between governments and the populations they represent.
A central theme of the letter was Iran’s deep-rooted distrust of the United States, which Pezeshkian attributed to a series of historical events. He pointed to foreign intervention, including the 1953 coup linked to US involvement, as a turning point that disrupted Iran’s democratic process and fostered long-term resentment. He further cited US support for the Shah’s regime, backing of Iraq during the Iran-Iraq war, and the imposition of extensive sanctions as factors that have compounded this mistrust over decades.
He argued that the depiction of Iran as a threat is driven by political and economic motives, suggesting that such narratives are constructed to justify military presence, sustain arms industries, and maintain geopolitical influence. According to him, the concentration of US military bases and forces around Iran reflects a disproportionate show of force against a country that, he claims, has not initiated war in modern times.
Pezeshkian also addressed the humanitarian and economic consequences of sanctions and military actions, stating that these measures have inflicted significant hardship on the Iranian population. He warned that continued aggression, including attacks on infrastructure and civilian facilities, not only harms lives within Iran but also contributes to broader regional instability and long-term global repercussions.
In his message, he questioned the rationale behind US involvement in the conflict, asking whether such actions genuinely serve the interests of the American people. He criticised what he described as the destruction of civilian infrastructure and loss of innocent lives, arguing that such measures damage the United States’ global standing rather than strengthen it.
The Iranian president also accused Israel of influencing US policy, suggesting that the framing of Iran as a threat serves to divert attention from other regional issues. He raised concerns that the conflict risks placing undue burdens on American resources while escalating tensions across the region.
Despite these criticisms, Pezeshkian highlighted Iran’s internal progress, pointing to improvements in literacy, education, healthcare, and technological development as evidence of resilience despite external pressures. He invited Americans to look beyond what he described as misinformation and to engage with a more nuanced understanding of Iranian society and its global contributions.
Concluding his letter, Pezeshkian framed the current moment as a critical juncture, urging a choice between continued confrontation and meaningful engagement. He warned that the path taken would have lasting consequences for future generations, asserting that while many powers have come and gone, Iran has endured through centuries with resilience and continuity.
