In a direct appeal to the United States, Iran's Foreign Minister has declared that President Donald Trump will never achieve victory through confrontation, but that both nations could win through genuine diplomacy. Seyed Abbas Araghchi penned a stark assessment of US policy in the Middle East, arguing that Washington has been misled into viewing Israel as a reliable ally and Iran as the primary enemy.
The Shattered Myth of Israeli Invulnerability
Araghchi points to the conflict in June of this year as a turning point. He contends that while Israel and its proxies claim a decisive victory, the reality exposed the fragility of the region's long-standing power dynamics. Iran's vast strategic depth – a country the size of Western Europe with a population ten times larger than Israel's – meant most of its provinces were untouched. In contrast, he states, all Israelis felt the impact of Iran's military response, shattering the narrative of Israeli invulnerability.
The Foreign Minister argues this event has led a growing number of Americans and Arab allies to a conclusion Iran has long championed: that Israel's recklessness is a threat to regional stability. This shift, he suggests, is creating the foundation for entirely new relationships across the Middle East.
The 'Maximum Pressure' Failure and a Path Forward
Araghchi identifies the nuclear crisis as a prime example of fiction driving policy. He reiterates Iran's long-standing position that it does not seek nuclear weapons, a stance he describes as a strategic doctrine based on religious and ethical principles, not a tactical bargaining chip.
He criticises the Trump administration's decision during its first term to abandon the 2015 nuclear deal, a move he says was based on false beliefs that Iran was near collapse and that 'maximum pressure' would force quick concessions. This strategy, Araghchi asserts, yielded only 'maximum resistance' from Tehran.
However, he strikes a cautiously optimistic note, revealing an unprecedented willingness among mutual friends of Iran and the US to facilitate dialogue. Iran remains open to a fair agreement built on mutual respect and interest, but any deal must include tangible and verifiable sanctions relief.
A Final Plea for Diplomatic Courage
The minister concludes with a challenge to President Trump. To win the trust of the Iranian people and honour pledges to his own supporters, Trump must do what his predecessors failed to achieve: end the unnecessary crisis through diplomacy. The first step, Araghchi insists, is to address Iran with a language of respect.
'Fortune favours the brave,' he writes, emphasising that it takes more courage to break a cycle of confrontation than to perpetuate it. With the Abraham Accords effectively buried by recent events, he posits that a brief window for transformative peace is now open, but it requires the US to reconsider its unconditional alliance with Israel and engage with Tehran as an equal partner.
