Araghchi: US responsible for regional escalation, Iran defending itself Iran’s foreign minister said the United States was responsible for escalating the conflict, adding that Tehran was acting in self-defence. “I accept that our friendly countries are upset and that the people of the region have been harmed,” Abbas Araghchi said in an interview with Al Jazeera, noting that President Masoud Pezeshkian had apologised to regional populations. “But all of this is America’s fault. We did not start this war; we are only defending ourselves,” he added.