Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a scathing rebuke of U.S. President Donald Trump’s address to the Israeli Knesset on Monday, labeling his remarks “irresponsible, shameful, and deeply hypocritical.”

The ministry accused the United States of being the primary enabler of what it called Israel’s “war crimes and genocide” in Palestine, while dismissing Trump’s claims about Iran’s nuclear program as “baseless and politically motivated.”

In a strongly worded statement released late Monday, Tehran described the U.S. as “the world’s largest sponsor of terrorism” for its unwavering military, financial, and diplomatic support for Israel, which Iran referred to as “the terrorist and genocidal Zionist regime.” The ministry argued that Washington’s complicity in Israel’s actions in Gaza and its repeated vetoes at the UN Security Council expose a “total disregard for human rights and international law.”

The statement paid tribute to the late General Qassem Soleimani, the former commander of Iran’s Quds Force, assassinated by a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad in 2020. Iran vowed that its people “will neither forgive nor forget” the killing of Soleimani, whom it hailed as an “immortal hero” for his role in combating ISIS, a group Iran claims was created by the U.S.

Iran categorically rejected U.S. allegations regarding its nuclear program, calling them a distraction from America’s own “record of nuclear aggression” and its obstruction of justice at the UN Security Council. The ministry accused the U.S. and Israel of perpetrating “crimes against Iranian territory, scientists, and civilians” under the guise of countering Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities.

Tehran pointed to U.S. interventionism and its support for Israel as the primary drivers of instability in the Middle East, accusing Washington of fueling “perpetual insecurity” through arms sales to “tyrannical regimes” and backing Israel’s occupation and apartheid policies. The ministry described U.S. actions, including bombings of civilian infrastructure and nuclear facilities, as responsible for thousands of deaths, including women and children.

The ministry dismissed Trump’s claims of pursuing “peace and dialogue” as contradictory to his administration’s record of aggression. In his Knesset address, Trump portrayed Iran as weakened, boasting that U.S. and Israeli strikes had “dismantled” its nuclear program and facilitated Arab normalization with Israel. Iranian analysts condemned the speech as reflective of a “colonial mentality” aimed at subjugating the Muslim world under Israeli dominance.

The ministry also highlighted what it called a “betrayal of negotiations,” noting that when Iran pursued diplomatic channels earlier this year, the U.S. and Israel responded with coordinated strikes on Iranian infrastructure, power plants, and research facilities, killing civilians.

Despite these challenges, Iran reaffirmed its commitment to dialogue and reason, while emphasizing its resolve to defend its independence and sovereignty. “Iranians, relying on their rich cultural and historical heritage, are a people of wisdom and justice, and will act with courage to defend their homeland against any aggression,” the statement concluded.

The sharp exchange underscores the ongoing tensions between Tehran and Washington, with Iran framing U.S. policies as the root cause of regional instability and a barrier to justice on the global stage. (ILKHA)