Iran’s deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh on Friday launched a sharp attack on former United States president Donald Trump, accusing him of advocating regime change in Iran while failing to handle domestic political issues in the United States. Speaking on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue, Khatibzadeh criticised Washington’s policies toward Tehran and said such rhetoric reflects unrealistic ambitions and political contradictions.

Khatibzadeh argued that calls for regime change in Iran are disconnected from reality and driven by misleading narratives. He suggested that leaders who speak about reshaping governments abroad should first address governance challenges at home. In a pointed remark, the Iranian diplomat said Trump could not even “appoint the mayor of New York", implying that the former US president lacks the authority or legitimacy to dictate political changes in other countries.

The Iranian official also accused Israel and its allies of promoting what he described as a “delusion of Greater Israel", claiming that such ideas have fuelled tensions in the region and contributed to international pressure on Iran. According to Khatibzadeh, Tehran has faced repeated accusations and sanctions based on what he characterised as false narratives and exaggerated claims about its intentions and policies in the Middle East.

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Khatibzadeh was in New Delhi to participate in the Raisina Dialogue, a major international conference on geopolitics and geo-economics organised annually by the Observer Research Foundation in collaboration with India’s Ministry of External Affairs. The event brings together political leaders, diplomats, strategic experts, and policymakers from around the world to discuss global security, economic cooperation, and international diplomacy.

During his visit, Khatibzadeh also met India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on the sidelines of the conference. The meeting highlighted ongoing diplomatic engagement between New Delhi and Tehran, with discussions focusing on regional developments, bilateral relations, and broader geopolitical issues affecting Asia and the Middle East.

Iran and the United States have long been at odds over issues including nuclear policy, regional influence, and economic sanctions. Statements like Khatibzadeh’s underscore the continuing tensions between Tehran and Washington, particularly in the context of debates over Iran’s political system and the broader strategic rivalry shaping the Middle East and global diplomacy.

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