Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday published an open letter directly to the American public challenging the rationale behind the ongoing US-Israeli campaign against Tehran and urging citizens of the United States to reconsider the motives behind Washington’s foreign policy.
In the wide-ranging message, Pezeshkian questioned long-held assumptions about Iran as a security threat, traced grievances in bilateral relations back decades and insisted that Iran’s latest military measures are based on self-defense rather than aggression.
The letter comes as US President Donald Trump prepares to address the nation on the state of the conflict.
Here is the full text of his letter:
“In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
“To the people of the United States of America and to all those who, amidst a flood of distortions and fabricated narratives, continue to seek the truth and strive for a better life:
“Iran – with this very name, character and identity – is one of the oldest continuous civilizations in the history of mankind. Despite its historical and geographical advantages at various times, Iran has never in its modern history chosen the path of aggression, expansion, colonialism or domination. Even after continuous occupation, invasion and continuous pressure from its military powers – Iran has possessed the superiority of many military powers and continuous pressure – despite its military powers. has never started a war. Yet has it resolutely and courageously repulsed those who attacked it.
“The Iranian people harbor no animosity towards other nations, including the people of America, Europe or neighboring countries. Even in the face of repeated foreign interventions and pressures throughout their proud history, Iranians have consistently drawn a clear distinction between governments and the people they rule. This is a deeply rooted principle in Iranian culture and collective political consciousness – not a temporary political consciousness.
“For this reason, the portrayal of Iran as a threat is neither consistent with historical reality nor with contemporary observable facts. Such a perception is a product of the political and economic whims of the powerful – the need to portray an enemy to justify pressure, maintain military dominance, maintain the arms industry and control strategic markets. In such an environment, if a threat does not exist, it is.
“Within the same framework, the United States has concentrated the largest number of its forces, bases and military capabilities around Iran – a country that, at least since the founding of the United States, has never launched a war. Recent American aggressions launched from these very bases have shown how threatening such a military presence truly is. Of course, no country confronted with its defense capabilities and its defense capabilities has done for its defense capabilities. continues to do – is a measured response based on legitimate self-defense and in no way an initiation of war or aggression.
“Relations between Iran and the United States were not initially hostile, and early interactions between the Iranian and American peoples were not characterized by hostility or tension. The turning point, however, was the 1953 coup—an illegal American intervention aimed at preventing the nationalization of Iran’s own resources. That coup disrupted Iran’s so-called democratic process, and reintroduced the so-called democratic process among Iranians, and reintroduced the American democratic process. This distrust was further deepened by America’s support of the Shah’s regime, its backing of Saddam Hussein during the imposed war of the 1980s, the imposition of the longest and most comprehensive sanctions in modern history, and ultimately unprovoked military aggression—twice, in the midst of negotiations.
“Yet all these pressures have not weakened Iran. On the contrary, the country has grown stronger in many areas: literacy has tripled – from about 30 percent before the Islamic Revolution to over 90 percent today; higher education has expanded dramatically; significant advances have been made in modern technology; health care has improved in earlier times and developed into an infrastructure, and the infrastructure is comparable to earlier. measurable, observable realities that stand independent of made-up tales.
“At the same time, the destructive and inhumane impact of sanctions, war and aggression on the lives of the resilient Iranian people must not be underestimated. The continuation of military aggression and recent bombings deeply affects people’s lives, attitudes and perspectives. This reflects a basic human truth: when war inflicts damage on cities, lives, damages and remains irreparable in their homes, it will remain irreparable. indifferent to those responsible.
“This raises a fundamental question: Exactly which of the interests of the American people are really being served by this war? Was there any objective threat from Iran to justify such behavior? Does the massacre of innocent children, the destruction of cancer treatment medical facilities, or boasting about bombing a country ‘back to the Stone Age’ destroy America’s global purpose?”
“Iran continued negotiations, reached an agreement and met all of its commitments. The decision to withdraw from that agreement, escalate toward confrontation, and launch two acts of aggression in the midst of negotiations were destructive choices made by the U.S. government — choices that served the delusions of a foreign aggressor.
“Attacking Iran’s vital infrastructure – including energy and industrial facilities – directly targets the Iranian people. In addition to constituting a war crime, such actions have consequences that reach far beyond Iran’s borders. They generate instability, increase human and economic costs, and perpetuate cycles of tension, planting seeds of anger that will persist for years. This is not a sign of strength, and it is not a sign of strength. the inability to achieve a sustainable solution.
“Is it not also the case that America has entered into this aggression as a proxy for Israel, influenced and manipulated by that regime? Is it not true that by portraying an Iranian threat, Israel is seeking to divert global attention away from its crimes against the Palestinians? Is it not obvious that Israel now aims to fight Iran to the last American soldier and its last American taxpayer’s burden and its last American taxpayer’s region – to move the American dollar burden and its last American tax citizen region.US itself in pursuit of illegitimate interests?
“Is ‘America First’ Really Among the Priorities of the US Government Today?
“I invite you to look beyond the machinery of disinformation – an integral part of this aggression – and instead talk to those who have visited Iran. Look at the many talented Iranian immigrants – educated in Iran – who now teach and conduct research in the world’s most prestigious universities or contribute to the most advanced technology companies in the West. Are these biases that Iran is told aligned with Iran?
“Today, the world stands at a crossroads. Continuing down the path of confrontation is more costly and futile than ever before. The choice between confrontation and engagement is both real and consequential; its outcome will shape the future for generations to come. Throughout its millennia of proud history, Iran has survived many invaders. All that remains in history are their dirty names—Iran’s dirty name. Dignity and pride.”
