Munich Security Conference: Iran Minister Slams Event as ‘Circus’

MUNICH – What was once a serious international forum, the Munich Security Conference (MSC) has devolved into a “circus prioritizing spectacle over substance,” according to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The criticism comes as the annual event grapples with heightened geopolitical tensions and a controversial shift in its approach to Iran. This year, organizers revoked invitations to senior Iranian officials following widespread protests within the Islamic Republic. In their place, the MSC invited Reza Pahlavi, the U.S.-backed son of the exiled Shah of Iran, who was overthrown in the 1979 Islamic Revolution, to address the conference. Pahlavi used his platform to call for Western support for regime change in Iran, attending demonstrations and giving an interview to Reuters where he urged the United States to bomb the country rather than engage in negotiations.

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“Sad to see the usually serious Munich Security Conference turn into a ‘Munich Circus’ when it comes to Iran,” Araghchi said in a series of posts on X on Saturday. “The EU appears confused, stuck in an inability to understand what is happening inside Iran… A purposeless EU has lost all geopolitical weight in our region.” The foreign minister added that the overall trajectory of Europe is “exceptionally bad, to say the least,” describing the bloc as a “power without teeth and marginalized” that is irrelevant to serious international discussions, particularly regarding Iran’s nuclear program. Washington has been attempting to pressure Iran to accept a fresh nuclear deal, after President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 agreement (JCPOA) during his first term, reimposing sanctions on Iran. Decades of U.S. Sanctions have been a major driver of the country’s economic decline, contributing to protests that began late last year. Initial peaceful protests quickly escalated into widespread violence, resulting in more than 3,000 deaths, with Iran accusing the U.S. And Israel of instigating the unrest. Earlier this week, Trump described regime change in the Islamic Republic as “the best thing that could happen.” Moscow has called the escalating tensions between the two countries “potentially explosive” and called for a peaceful resolution. The development underscores growing regional instability and the challenges to diplomatic efforts.