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Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has sharply criticized the Munich Security Conference, branding it a "Munich Circus" after the son of Iran's deposed shah used the platform to call on the United States and Israel to intervene against the Islamic Republic.
In a post on the social media platform X, Araghchi lamented what he described as the degradation of a traditionally serious diplomatic forum. "It is sad that the Munich Security Conference, generally regarded as a serious and prestigious event, has turned into a 'Munich Circus' over the Iran issue," he wrote.
The Iranian minister's broadside extended well beyond the conference itself, targeting the European Union and several European governments for what he characterized as strategic confusion in their approach to Iran.
Araghchi argued that the EU has become geopolitically irrelevant in the Middle East, asserting that the bloc has "lost all its geopolitical weight in our region." He singled out Germany in particular, accusing Berlin of having taken the lead in "completely surrendering its regional policy to Israel." The general trajectory of Europe, he said, is "dire, to put it mildly."
The foreign minister drew a direct line between Europe's diminished standing and the ongoing negotiations over Iran's nuclear program. He contended that "the paralysis and irrelevance of the EU/E3 is clearly visible in the dynamics of the current negotiations on Iran's nuclear program," referring to the diplomatic grouping of Britain, Germany and France known as the E3.
Araghchi went further, claiming that regional allies of Iran have proven to be "far more effective and helpful" than the sidelined E3 nations. The remark appeared designed to underscore Tehran's view that European powers no longer hold meaningful leverage in Middle Eastern diplomacy, and that Iran's network of partnerships across the region carries greater weight than Western engagement.
The immediate catalyst for Araghchi's remarks was the appearance of Reza Pahlavi, the eldest son of Iran's last shah, at the Munich Security Conference. Pahlavi, who has long positioned himself as a voice for regime change in Tehran, reportedly used his address to urge the United States and Israel to take action against the Iranian government.
The Munich Security Conference, held annually in the Bavarian capital, is one of the world's premier forums for international security policy. It regularly draws heads of state, defense ministers, diplomats and senior military officials from dozens of countries. The inclusion of opposition figures such as Pahlavi alongside sitting government officials has in the past drawn criticism from states that view it as a legitimization of dissent movements.
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