Iranian leaders taunt ‘US Epstein class’ during war Submitted by Elis Gjevori on Sun, 03/15/2026 - 23:45 Iranian officials frame the conflict as resistance against a morally compromised US political class tied to Epstein A mural titled "Island Boys" by artist Scott Marsh is seen on a building wall in Sydney on February 24, 2026, depicting Jeffrey Epstein alongside US President Donald Trump. (Saeed Khan/AFP) Off Senior Iranian officials have repeatedly invoked the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein to attack Washington’s political elite during the ongoing Israeli-US war on the country. Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, accused figures linked to Epstein’s network of plotting to provoke a global crisis and blame Tehran. Posting on X, Larijani said: “I’ve heard that the remaining members of Epstein’s network have devised a conspiracy to create an incident similar to 9/11 and blame Iran for it." "Iran fundamentally opposes such terrorist schemes and has no war with the American people. We are defending our country against an aggression launched by the US and Israel. Iran stands tall in doing so in order to teach the aggressors a lesson,” he added. The comments are part of a wider campaign by Iranian leaders to portray the US political class as morally engaged in an illegal war and compromised while positioning Iran as resisting aggression by Washington and Israel. Larijani also mocked remarks from US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who had suggested Iranian leaders were hiding like "rats" during the war. Mr. Hegseth! Our leaders have been, and still are, among the people. But your leaders? On Epstein's island! https://t.co/iywavTegyv pic.twitter.com/rxFhzsWoq5 — Ali Larijani | علی لاریجانی (@alilarijani_ir) March 13, 2026 Iranian officials had appeared publicly at Tehran’s annual al-Quds Day rally on 13 March, where crowds marched in support of Palestinians. “Mr. Hegseth! Our leaders have been, and sti