Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian released a message addressed to the American people on Wednesday, asserting that Iran holds no hostility toward US citizens.
In the statement, Pezeshkian said that Iran, despite experiencing “occupation, aggression and pressures imposed by global powers,” has never initiated war in modern history, but rather has only pushed back against aggressors.
Any portrayal of Iran as a threat is neither consistent with historical nor contemporary reality, and is only created for other countries to justify pressure, maintain military superiority, and manage strategic markets, Pezeshkian wrote.
Iran has no enmity with other nations’ peoples, including those of Gulf states, the US, and Europe. Iran’s military buildup and operations have all been “only reaction and defense” against US aggression and the buildup of US forces in the region, according to the message.
Pezeshkian presented the history of the US-Iran relationship as one of peace until 1953, when US intervention “halted the process of democracy, restored dictatorship, and created distrust in the minds of Iranians towards US policies.”
Despite the imposition of extensive sanctions and direct military actions against Iran, the country has only grown in strength, with the literacy rate tripling, technologies advancing, health services expanding, and infrastructure strengthening, Pezeshkian said, urging the public to ignore "media propaganda."
War counter to US interests, Pezeshkian says
Pezeshkian also urged the American people to consider whether their interests are really served in the war.
“Does the massacre of innocent children, the destruction of cancer pharmaceutical centers, or the exaggeration of bombing a nation back to the Stone Age have any benefit other than further damaging America's global image?” Pezeshkian wrote.
Pezeshkian further claimed that the US is acting as a “proxy force for Israel,” and that the war had started because Israel had “decided to fight Iran to the last American soldier.”
“Is 'America First' truly on the list of priorities of the US government today?” Pezeshkian asked.
Pezeshkian accused the US of committing war crimes by attacking Iran’s critical infrastructure, warning that the consequences would spread beyond Iran’s borders and that attacking such targets was a sign of US confusion and the inability to find a lasting solution.
"Iran will weather the conflict, and the US must choose between confrontation and engagement," Pezeshkian added.
"Iran has faced many aggressors throughout its thousands of years of glorious history. All that is left of them is their shameful name in history, and Iran still stands proud,” he concluded.