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| Araghchi clarifies rhetoric and rejects hit-team plots |
Iran’s top diplomat spoke out this week to clear the air on two hot-button claims. He said Iran never meant to erase Israel from existence. He also said Tehran never backed any plot to kill former President Donald Trump. Each denial came in a careful, on-camera sit-down with U.S. media.
Araghchi said the words most heard in Iran’s protests target only U.S. policies, not people. He said old chants get twisted when not set against Persian nuance. He called talk of secret hit-teams nothing but political smoke.
His remarks mark a shift after June’s air raids on Iran’s nuclear sites. They came days after those strikes stoked fear of Iranian revenge on U.S. soil. But Araghchi said Tehran holds no vendetta against past or present U.S. leaders.
He also touched on Israel rhetoric. He said no official text calls for Israel’s removal. He said some past lines got lost in translation from Persian to English. He urged listeners to watch for those shifts in meaning.
In 2005, then-President Ahmadinejad used Persian words that some experts later retranslated. He used a phrase meaning “regime above Jerusalem” – not a direct threat to every Israeli citizen. Some scholars now say early reports mangled his meaning.
That old controversy shaped global views of Iran. Western capitals often pointed to that phrase as proof of genocidal intent. But top historians now say it came down to idiomatic mistranslation.
Recent U.S. reports suggested Revolutionary Guard units backed a plan to kill Trump. The U.S. Justice Department charged an Iranian national in New York for plotting the act. Yet Iran’s ministry called each claim baseless.
In Monday’s interview, Araghchi said Iran respects U.S. elections. He said the country honors Americans’ right to choose leaders. He added Iran would never move against Trump or any other U.S. official.
That stance echoes a statement from eight months ago. Then-Foreign Minister Araqchi told Reuters Iran had no plan to harm any U.S. president. He urged fresh talks and calm ties.
Araghchi spent time on a phrase heard at some rallies. He said it targets U.S. global policies, not U.S. citizens. He urged viewers to hear the full motto in context. He said it never meant personal harm.
That chant grew in 1979 after the Shah’s fall. Backers meant to call out U.S. power plays, not its people. Araghchi said modern Iran wants better ties, not blood feuds.
Beyond media interviews, some hard-line sites ran fundraisers for anyone who kills Trump. Iran’s foreign ministry called those pages illegal. They said such pages lack state backing.
A top cleric also issued a “fatwa” naming Trump an “enemy of God.” Iran’s diplomats said nonbinding decrees don’t reflect national policy. They said clerical remarks don’t equal government orders.
U.S. experts warned of possible sleeper cells tied to Iran. They said some agents train abroad, then slip into America. They said those actors wait for orders based on world events. Araghchi denied any state backing for covert attacks.
Those security alerts date to mid-July 2025. They said cells could use drones and lone-wolf tactics. Iran’s foreign office called the warnings “hype” and urged calm.
Ties between Tehran and Washington hit new lows after the June strikes. Israel joined that action on three nuclear sites. Each side saw serious risk in letting Iran restart enrichment. Iran halted some work at Fordow and Natanz afterward.
Araghchi said Iran paused enrichment to lower risks. He said Iran plans only peaceful nuclear work. He asked Europe to bring back sanctions relief. He said Iran still seeks indirect talks to resolve issues.
Middle East analysts say Araghchi’s tone shows Iran seeks fewer direct conflicts. They note Iran now uses public diplomacy more than before. They say Tehran wants to split U.S. support for tougher sanctions.
They add hard-liners still hold sway in Iran. But they say those factions risk more isolation by pushing violent rhetoric. Araghchi’s comments aim to mend bridges before escalation.
Iran and world powers set to meet again soon. Talks aim to curb nuclear threats. Araghchi said Iran will join only if sanctions ease. He said Iran hopes for deals that respect its rights.
On the Israel front, diplomats plan back-channel talks. U.S. and European envoys want to keep any blowback contained. They say open lines with Iran matter more than public rows.
Fox news interview with Araghchi