Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has denied U.S. allegations linking Tehran to a purported plot to assassinate Donald Trump, calling on Saturday for confidence-building measures between the two adversarial nations.
“Now … a new scenario is fabricated … as a killer does not exist in reality, scriptwriters are brought in to manufacture a third-rate comedy,” Araqchi stated in a post on X.
His remarks referred to the alleged plot, which U.S. officials claim was orchestrated by Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards to assassinate Trump, who won the presidential election on Tuesday and will assume office in January.
Araqchi added, “The American people have made their decision. And Iran respects their right to elect the President of their choice. The path forward is also a choice. It begins with respect.”
He further emphasized that “Iran is NOT after nuclear weapons, period. This is a policy based on Islamic teachings and our security calculations. Confidence-building is needed from both sides. It is not a one-way street.”
Earlier, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei dismissed the U.S. claim, describing it as a “repulsive” ploy by Israel and Iranian opposition groups abroad to “complicate matters between America and Iran.”
Some Iranian analysts have not ruled out the possibility of improved relations between Tehran and Washington under Trump, though likely without formal diplomatic ties.
“Iran will act based on its own interests. It is possible that secret talks between Tehran and Washington take place. If security threats against the Islamic Republic are removed, anything is possible,” commented Tehran-based analyst Saeed Laylaz this week.
While opposing Israel, Iran’s leaders also remain cautious of a potential all-out conflict in the region, where Israel is involved in clashes with Tehran’s allies in Gaza and Lebanon.