Araghchi’s Message to Trump: Iran is Invincible; Diplomacy Can Create a Win-Win Outcome

Tehran - BORNA - In a strategic op-ed published in The Guardian on Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi asserted that Iran is invincible and urged the incoming Trump administration to abandon confrontation in favor of a "window of opportunity" for peace and diplomacy.

The full text of the op-ed is as follows:

"While Benjamin Netanyahu achieved his dream of dragging the U.S. into a military confrontation with Iran earlier this year, it came at an unprecedented and heavy price for Israel. Seeing Netanyahu beg Donald Trump to rescue him from the quagmire he created has led a growing number of Americans to openly acknowledge that Israel is not an ally, but a liability. In September, America’s Arab allies reached the same conclusion we Iranians have always emphasized: Israeli recklessness is a threat to everyone.

This reality paves the way for entirely new relations that could transform our region. The U.S. government now faces a dilemma: either continue signing blank checks for Israel with American taxpayer dollars and political credibility, or be part of a fundamental and positive shift. For decades, Western policy toward our region has been largely shaped by myths originated in Israel. The June war was decisive in many ways, including exposing the cost of the West mistaking myth-making for strategy. Israel and its proxies claim 'decisive victory' and say Iran is weakened and deterred.

However, our vast strategic depth—a country the size of Western Europe with a population ten times that of Israel—ensured most of our provinces remained immune to Israeli aggression. In contrast, all Israelis experienced our military power. Now, the narrative of 'invincibility' that anchors Israel’s myth-making machine has collapsed. The fabricated crisis surrounding Iran’s nuclear program is a clear example of how stories written in Tel Aviv and promoted by Israel’s allies have fueled unnecessary confrontations.

For decades, we Iranians have emphasized that we do not seek nuclear weapons. This is not a tactical claim, but a strategic doctrine based on religious, ethical, and security considerations. Yet, during Trump’s first term, the U.S. government was led to the false belief that Iran was on the verge of collapse, that the 2015 nuclear deal was our lifeline, and that exiting it would force us to surrender quickly. These myths encouraged Washington to abandon a functional diplomatic framework and turn to 'maximum pressure'—a policy that only yielded 'maximum resistance.'

A growing number of Americans, especially those who wish to focus on rebuilding America, now openly accept what was previously taboo: that unconditional acceptance of Israeli narratives has drained U.S. resources, undermined its credibility, and entangled America in conflicts that do not serve its interests. Over the past two years, the Tel Aviv regime has killed tens of thousands of innocent Palestinians in Gaza and attacked Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Yemen, and even Qatar. Nearly every country in the region has been threatened. No responsible person calls this aggression 'self-defense.'

There is another hopeful note in recent developments: a new momentum in our region to contain the shared Israeli threat. This has driven the final nail into the coffin of the so-called Abraham Accords and opened the door to fresh cooperation. I have learned of an unprecedented desire among mutual friends of Iran and the U.S. to facilitate dialogue and ensure the full, verifiable implementation of any negotiated agreement. This looks promising. Despite Israel’s attack on diplomacy during the Iran-U.S. nuclear talks, Iran remains committed to an agreement based on mutual respect and common interests.

Realizing this goal depends on America accepting that negotiation is different from dictating terms of surrender. Our people know well that President Trump is not the first U.S. president to attack them, and they have seen the disastrous experiences of engagement with America. If President Trump wants to earn their trust and keep his promises to his domestic supporters, he must do what none of his predecessors managed: end an unnecessary crisis through peace and diplomacy.

The first step is to speak to the Iranian nation with the language of respect, without conditions or caveats. Iran has never wanted war with the U.S.; the restraint of our commanders in June, which is the only reason U.S. military bases in the region remain intact, proves this. This restraint should not be mistaken for weakness or assumed to be endless.

The world must also know that Iranians will never relinquish their rights. These rights, enjoyed by all signatories of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), include access to all aspects of peaceful nuclear technology. We Iranians do not fear serious negotiations to reach a fair deal. Such a deal must include tangible and verifiable sanctions relief. Regional developments can enable the implementation of understandings in an entirely new way.

For those willing to walk a path no one has gone before, a short window of opportunity has opened. Fortune favors the brave, and breaking a vicious cycle requires far more courage than simply continuing it."

End Article