Iran Rebuts White House Claims, Labels Them a ‘Flight from Reality’

On Saturday, Iran’s foreign ministry turned the tables on Washington, saying the barrage of accusations coming from the White House actually mirrors actions the United States itself has taken. Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei posted a pointed reply on X, describing the U.S. statements as a “flight from reality” and an act of projection, even quoting Proverbs 28:1 to underscore his point.

“The White House spokesperson has issued a lengthy list of accusations against Iran. With striking precision, most of these charges describe the very actions the United States itself has initiated, perpetrated, or supported,” Baqaei wrote. He added that such deflection should come as no surprise.

At the same time, Baqaei cautioned Tehran’s officials headed to New York that they must not give any impression of weakness that adversaries could read into their demeanor. “We must be careful during the trip to New York to ensure no signal is sent that the enemy could interpret as weakness on the Iranian side,” he told reporters, as relayed by Fars News Agency.

Nevertheless, Iran insists its presence at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High‑Level Week is a non‑negotiable right. “The trip to New York holds no appeal for Iranian diplomats. Participating in the UN General Assembly is our right, and we must use this gathering to loudly proclaim the justice of the Iranian nation,” Baqaei said.

The U.S. side, meanwhile, did not stay silent. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott slammed the Iranian delegation, suggesting they might use the UNGA visit as a pretext for luxury shopping financed by the Iranian people’s suffering. He warned, “Not on our watch,” in a brief X post.

Despite the rhetoric, Washington has granted visas to Iran’s core delegation, which includes President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, while imposing travel restrictions and prohibiting the purchase of luxury goods.

The 81st UNGA High‑Level Week runs from September 18‑28 at the UN headquarters in New York. The exchange of barbs comes amid ongoing tensions over the Strait of Hormuz and broader disagreements that have kept the U.S.‑Iran relationship on edge.