Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has issued a rare open letter to the American public, urging citizens to reconsider the assumptions driving Washington’s foreign policy toward Iran. In his message, Pezeshkian challenged the portrayal of Iran as a security threat, arguing that the country’s actions are rooted in self‑defence rather than aggression.
The president traced decades of grievances in US‑Iran relations, pointing to the 1953 coup d’état, America’s support for the Shah, backing Saddam Hussein during the 1980s war, and the imposition of sweeping sanctions. He argued these interventions created deep distrust among Iranians while failing to weaken the nation. Instead, he highlighted Iran’s progress in literacy, education, technology, healthcare, and infrastructure, despite external pressures.
Pezeshkian emphasized that Iran has never initiated a war in modern history, even when possessing military superiority over its neighbors. He insisted that portraying Iran as a threat serves the interests of powerful nations seeking to justify military dominance, sustain the arms industry, and control strategic markets. He accused the United States of concentrating military forces around Iran, creating instability rather than security.
The letter also questioned whether the ongoing US‑Israeli campaign against Tehran truly serves American interests. Pezeshkian criticized attacks on Iran’s infrastructure, calling them war crimes with consequences extending beyond Iran’s borders. He suggested that Israel manipulates US policy to fight Iran “to the last American soldier and taxpayer dollar.”
Appealing directly to Americans, Pezeshkian urged them to look beyond “manufactured narratives” and instead engage with Iranians, pointing to the contributions of Iranian immigrants in academia and technology worldwide. He concluded by stressing that the choice between confrontation and engagement will shape the future for generations, declaring Iran’s resilience and dignity in the face of aggression.
