Iran (IMNA) - The interview appears to have been conducted before Araghchi left for Geneva, Switzerland on Wednesday afternoon to participate in nuclear talks with the United States scheduled for Thursday.
He said Iran believes U.S. policy, including during the presidency of Donald Trump, has been shaped by misunderstandings and external influences rather than direct engagement with Iranian society.
Araghchi linked current tensions to the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which overthrew the U.S.-backed Shah and replaced the Western-aligned monarchy with the Islamic Republic, fundamentally altering Iran’s relations with Washington and its allies.
“For the past 47 years, we have been the subject or victim of their hostility,” he said. “They attempted coups several times. They supported Saddam Hussein in imposing an eight-year war on us. Last year, another war. All kinds of sanctions. Maximum pressure. And they failed.”
He added that American perceptions of Iran have been shaped by outside narratives rather than firsthand understanding.
“They have no real information about Iran and the Iranian people,” he said. “They are fed misinformation campaigns, mostly by Israeli lobbies.”
Araghchi said Iran remains open to a different path in relations if Washington changes its approach.
“I believe the only solution is dialogue conducted with respect toward the Iranian people,” he said. “If they use that language, they will see the results. We will respond in the same manner.”
The foreign minister also rejected claims that Iran is developing missiles capable of reaching the United States, calling such reports “fake news.” He reiterated that Iran has intentionally capped its missile range at under 2,000 kilometres and said the programme is strictly defensive and intended for deterrence, not as a global threat. According to Araghchi, Trump himself became a victim of misinformation.
He stressed that Iran’s missile programme is designed to safeguard the country, referring to self-defense during last June’s conflict, which he attributed to Israel and the United States. He accused Israel of being the only regional actor seeking confrontation and said Iran will continue to preserve its defensive capabilities.
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