Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has directly addressed the American public via an open letter, questioning whether the ongoing war with Iran genuinely serves U.S. interests under the 'America First' doctrine. This diplomatic outreach precedes President Donald Trump's national address on the conflict, where he declared the war nearing completion.
Pezeshkian's Diplomatic Appeal
- The letter, posted on social media platform X late Wednesday, is explicitly addressed "to the people of the United States of America."
- Pezeshkian asks: "Exactly which of the American people’s interests are truly being served by this war?" and "Is ‘America First’ truly among the priorities of the US government today?"
- He claims Iran has "never, in its modern history, chosen the path of aggression, expansion, colonialism, or domination, and never initiated any war."
- Describes the perception of Iran as a threat as "the product of political and economic whims of the powerful."
- Asserts that Iran's drone and missile strikes are "legitimate self-defense."
Distinguishing People from Government
- Pezeshkian states that "Iranian people harbour no enmity towards other nations, including the people of America, Europe, or neighboring countries."
- Calls this a "deeply rooted principle in Iranian culture and collective consciousness–not a temporary political stance."
Trump's National Address
- In his speech, Trump called the Iranian leadership "the most violent and thuggish regime on Earth."
- Warned that a nuclear-armed Iran would be "an intolerable threat."
- Asserted that the war is "nearing completion" with most of Iran's military capabilities decimated.
Leadership Context
- Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has not been seen or heard in public since the US and Israel launched their war on Iran over a month ago.
- It is unclear whether other elements of Iran's leadership were involved in drafting the open letter.
- Pezeshkian warned that "continuing along the path of confrontation is more costly and futile than ever before."