Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has addressed an open letter to the American public, urging citizens to rethink prevailing narratives about Iran as military tensions with the US escalate. The message, posted on social media platform X, comes at a crucial moment – just hours before President Donald Trump is expected to deliver a national address on ongoing US military operations involving Iran.
A call to reject “disinformation” in war narratives
Pezeshkian’s open letter frames the current geopolitical moment as a decisive turning point and warns of the long-term consequences of continued hostilities.
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“Today, the world stands at a crossroads,” Pezeshkian wrote. “Continuing on the path of confrontation is more costly and futile than ever before.”
He urged Americans to question the dominant portrayal of Iran and called for a more nuanced understanding beyond what he described as the “disinformation machine.” The Iranian president’s comments come amid the ongoing US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, which is now in its fifth week.
War, Perception, and the Question of American Interests
Central to Pezeshkian’s message is a direct appeal to US citizens to evaluate whether the conflict serves their national interests. He questioned Washington’s role in the war, suggesting the US entered the conflict “as a proxy for Israel”, while accusing Israel of intensifying threats to divert attention from its actions in the Palestinian territories.
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“Is ‘America First’ Really Among the US Government’s Priorities Today?” he asked before urging Americans to “look behind the disinformation machine.”
The letter also highlighted the global contributions of Iranian emigrants, positioning them as evidence that prevailing narratives about Iran are incomplete or distorted.
Defensive Posture or Strategic Messages?
Pezeshkian strongly rejected accusations of Iranian aggression, arguing that the country’s military posture was rooted in self-defense.
“Despite its historical and geographical advantages at various times, Iran has never chosen the path of aggression in its modern history,” he wrote.
He argued that Iran’s actions were a “measured response based on legitimate self-defense,” especially in light of what he described as a growing U.S. military presence in the region.
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The claims contrast with US and Israeli justifications for the strikes, which officials have characterized as defensive or pre-emptive, although no publicly available evidence has been presented to demonstrate imminent Iranian threats.
Diplomatic breakdown and competing narratives
The letter also goes back to the collapse of the nuclear negotiations and puts the blame squarely on Washington.
“Iran continued negotiations, reached an agreement and met all its commitments,” Pezeshkian wrote. “The decision to withdraw from this agreement … was a destructive decision by the US government.”
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A breakdown in talks has since given way to an escalation of hostilities, with both sides trading accusations and rejecting ceasefire proposals. Trump’s recent claim that Iran had asked for a ceasefire was dismissed by Tehran as “false and baseless”, further illustrating the widening rift between the two governments.
Iran called US demands “irrational” ahead of Trump’s war speech.
Iran on Thursday dismissed Washington’s stance as “maximalist and irrational” and denied any ceasefire talks were underway, even as President Donald Trump prepared to address the nation on the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
A day earlier, Trump claimed the Iranian president was seeking a ceasefire but insisted Tehran must first reopen the Strait of Hormuz – remarks that heightened global attention ahead of his televised speech.
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“The messages have been received through intermediaries, including Pakistan, but there is no direct negotiation with the US,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said, accusing Washington of making “maximalist and irrational” demands.
He added that Iran was prepared for any escalation, including a potential ground invasion.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the US would consider a ceasefire “when the Strait of Hormuz is open, free and clear”, warning that otherwise Washington would continue its offensive.
But Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have signaled defiance, vowing to keep the strategic waterway closed to the country’s “enemies”.
