Iran Israel-US war: Iranian President Mashud Pezeshkian’s open letter to American citizens amid the war, "What benefit are the American people getting from this war?"

Iran—with its name, character, and identity—is one of the oldest continuous civilizations in human history. Despite having geographical and historical advantages throughout its history, Iran has never chosen the path of aggression, expansion, colonialism or domination in modern history. Despite occupation, invasion, and sustained pressure from global powers—and despite having a military advantage over many of its neighbors—Iran has never initiated a war. Yet, with courage and determination he has pushed back those who attacked him.

The Iranian people do not hold any hostility towards other countries, including America, Europe or neighboring countries. Throughout their glorious history, Iranians have consistently maintained a clear distinction between governments and the people they rule, despite repeated foreign interventions and pressures. This is a principle deeply rooted in Iranian culture and collective consciousness—not a temporary political stance.

For this reason, presenting Iran as a threat is neither consistent with historical reality nor with currently observable facts. Such a perception is the result of the political and economic desires of powerful countries—the need to create an enemy to justify coercion, maintain military dominance, keep the arms industry afloat, and control strategic markets. In such an environment, if a threat does not exist, it is created.

Within this framework, the United States has concentrated its largest concentration of forces, bases, and military capabilities around Iran—a country that, at least since America’s founding, has never initiated a war. Recent US attacks, launched from these very bases, show how threatening such a military presence really is. Naturally, any country facing such circumstances will not refrain from strengthening its defensive capabilities. What Iran has done—and continues to do—is a balanced response based on legitimate self-defense, not an initiation of war or aggression by any means.

Relations between Iran and the United States were not initially hostile, and early contacts between the Iranian and American peoples were also not affected by hostilities or coups—except for the illegal American intervention of 1953. The turning point came when Iran intervened to prevent the nationalization of its resources. That coup disrupted Iran’s democratic process, reestablished dictatorship, and created deep distrust among Iranians of American policies. This distrust increased further when the US supported the Shah’s regime. Supported Saddam Hussein during the imposed war in the 1980s. imposed the longest and most comprehensive sanctions in modern history, and ultimately—amid negotiations—launched two unprovoked military attacks.

Yet, despite all these pressures, Iran did not weaken. In contrast, Iran has strengthened in many areas. The literacy rate has increased almost three times; There has been significant expansion in higher education. Significant progress has been achieved in modern technology. Health services have improved; And infrastructure development has occurred at a faster and broader scale than ever before. These are measurable and clear realities, separate from fabricated narratives.

At the same time, the destructive and inhumane impact of sanctions, war and aggression is also evident. Its impact on the steadfast lives of the Iranian people should not be underestimated. The continuity of military aggression and the recent bombings have a deep impact on the lives, attitudes and thinking of the people. It reflects a fundamental human truth: when war causes irreparable damage to people’s lives, homes, cities and futures.

This raises a fundamental question: What interests of the American people are actually being served by this war? Was there any real threat from Iran that could justify such behavior? Does the massacre of innocent children, the destruction of cancer-treatment pharmaceutical facilities, or boasting about sending a country “back to the Stone Age”—do any of these things serve any purpose other than further damaging the global reputation of the United States?

Iran adopted the path of negotiations. An agreement was reached. And fulfilled all its commitments. The decision to withdraw from that agreement, escalate the conflict, and take aggressive action twice amid negotiations were disastrous decisions by the U.S. government—decisions that feed the illusions of a foreign aggressor.

An attack on Iran’s critical infrastructure—including energy and industrial facilities—directly targets the Iranian people. Not only is this a war crime, but its consequences reach far beyond Iran’s borders. These create instability. Increase human and economic costs. Continuing the cycle of stress. Due to which the seeds of resentment are sown which persist for years. This is not a show of strength; Rather, it is a sign of strategic confusion and inability to achieve sustainable solutions.

Is it not also true that America has participated in this aggression as a proxy for Israel, and is acting under the influence and manipulation of that regime? Is it not true that Israel, by creating the threat of Iran, is trying to divert global attention from its crimes against Palestinians? Is it not clear that Israel now wants to fight Iran to the last American soldier and the last American taxpayer dollar?

Is Iran burdening the region and the United States itself with its delusions in pursuit of illicit interests?Is “America First” really among the priorities of the U.S. government today? I invite you to look beyond the machinery of misinformation—which is an essential part of this attack. Talk to people who have visited Iran. Look at the many successful Iranian emigrants—educated in Iran—who now teach and conduct research at the world’s most prestigious universities, or contribute to the West’s most advanced technology companies. Do these realities match up with the distortions you are being told about Iran and its people? Today, the world stands at a crossroads.

It is more costly and futile than ever to proceed on a collision course. The choice between confrontation and engagement is both real and consequential; Its outcome will shape the future of generations to come. Throughout its glorious history spanning thousands of years, Iran has survived many invasions. Only their tarnished names remain in history, while Iran remains resilient, dignified and proud.