New Delhi, March 6: Amid escalating tensions in West Asia, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh sharply criticised US President Donald Trump, questioning Washington’s stance on Iran’s political leadership.
Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue 2026 in New Delhi, Khatibzadeh called it ironic that the US president discusses reshaping Iran’s leadership while struggling with local political appointments in his own country.
“President Trump is asking for a leadership change in Iran, while he can’t even appoint the mayor of New York. Can you imagine this colonial approach? While he promotes democracy at home, he seeks to topple the democratically elected president of Iran,” Khatibzadeh said.
Iran Remains Responsible in the Gulf
Khatibzadeh also dismissed claims that Iran had closed the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, stressing Tehran’s role as a stabilising force in the Gulf despite ongoing conflict with the US and Israel.
“Iran is an anchor of stability in the Strait of Hormuz. We will announce if we ever close it. Until then, we remain a responsible power,” he said.
Highlighting Indo-Iranian diplomatic alignment, the minister added, “India and Iran share a chess mentality, unlike the American football approach. Diplomacy is the only viable path forward.”
Existential War and Self-Defence
The Deputy Foreign Minister termed the ongoing conflict an “existential war”, accusing the US and Israel of unprovoked aggression against Tehran, motivated by what he called “flat lies” and the “delusion of a Greater Israel.”
“What is being done by Americans and Israelis today violates international law. Iran has not provoked these attacks; my country is under assault based on false claims of posing a threat,” Khatibzadeh said.
He warned that Iran is prepared to respond firmly to any foreign strikes: “This is an existential war on Iran. We are waging a heroic, nationalistic defence to push back aggressors. We will target the origin points of attacks if necessary.”
False-Flag Operations and Regional Security
Khatibzadeh alleged that false-flag operations were being used to escalate the conflict, citing attempts in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. He stressed that Tehran seeks to prevent the crisis from spreading regionally.
“We are trying to avoid spillover to other areas. Reports indicate Mossad groups attempted attacks on refineries in other countries. Iran is committed to preventing further escalation,” he said.
Responsibility and Diplomacy
The Iranian minister condemned the targeting of state officials, warning of dangerous international precedents: “Assassinating a head of state sets a very dangerous norm. The responsibility for ending hostilities lies with those who initiated the aggression.”
