Iran Condemns US 'Hostile Behavior' Amid Trump's Call for Dialogue

Tehran Rejects Trump's Overture as Inconsistent

Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran – Iran's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday strongly criticized recent statements by US President Donald Trump, accusing Washington of 'hostile and criminal behavior.' The rebuke came in response to President Trump's call for dialogue and a potential peace deal with Tehran, which Iran deemed inconsistent with the United States' actions. The ministry's statement emphasized that the 'desire for peace and dialogue expressed by the US president is at odds with the hostile and criminal behavior of the United States toward the Iranian people.'

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi further articulated Iran's position, stating on X that 'Mr. Trump can either be a President of Peace or a President of War, but he cannot be both at the same time,' underscoring that US conduct undermines its own diplomatic claims.

US Actions Cited by Iran

Iran highlighted several recent actions by the United States that it considers contradictory to calls for peace and dialogue:

• Joint Strikes on Nuclear Facilities: In June, the US and Israeli forces jointly struck Iranian nuclear facilities. These strikes followed five rounds of indirect nuclear talks that had stalled over issues such as uranium enrichment.
• Civilian Casualties and Infrastructure Damage: Iran's Foreign Ministry questioned how one could 'attack the residential areas and nuclear facilities of a country in the midst of political negotiations, kill more than 1,000 people including innocent women and children, and then demand peace and friendship?'
• Sanctions and 'Maximum Pressure': The ministry pointed to the reinstatement of sweeping sanctions on Iran in January, reviving Trump's 'maximum pressure' policy, and stated that Iran 'cannot survive' under current sanctions.
• Support for Israel and Regional Instability: Tehran accused the US of complicity in what it called Israel's 'war crimes' in Gaza and of being 'the biggest factor in instability and insecurity in the region' due to its interventionist policies and arms sales.
• Qassem Soleimani Strike: The ministry also referenced the 2020 US drone strike that killed Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani, describing him as a national hero and stating that Iranians would 'never forgive' this act.

President Trump's Remarks in Knesset

The Iranian condemnation followed President Trump's speech to the Israeli Knesset on Monday, October 13, 2025. During his address, Trump expressed a desire for a peace deal with Iran, stating 'it would be great if we made a peace deal with them.' He also suggested he would 'love to take the sanctions off when they're ready to talk.'

Trump urged Iran's leaders to 'renounce terrorists, stop threatening their neighbors, quit funding their militant proxies, and finally recognize Israel's right to exist.' He also claimed that Iran 'took a big hit' in the recent 12-day conflict with Israel, which saw Iran retaliate with missile and drone attacks after the initial strikes on its facilities.

Deepening Mistrust and Stalled Diplomacy

The exchange highlights the deep mistrust that continues to define US-Iran relations. Iran's Foreign Ministry called Trump's remarks 'irresponsible and shameful,' accusing the United States of being 'a leading producer of terrorism and a supporter of the terrorist and genocidal Zionist regime,' and asserting that the US 'has no moral authority to accuse others.' This diplomatic friction comes amidst stalled nuclear talks and recent military confrontations, further complicating any potential diplomatic breakthroughs between the two nations.