Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has urged Washington to shift away from confrontation with Tehran, questioning both US policy priorities and the “machinery of misinformation” about his country, Al Jazeera reports.

“Is ‘America First’ truly among the priorities of the US government today?” Pezeshkian asks.

He has also called on Americans to judge Iran by the experiences of those who have visited the nation of some 90 million people and the achievements of Iranian immigrants.

“Observe the many accomplished Iranian immigrants — educated in Iran — who now teach and conduct research at the world’s most prestigious universities, or contribute to the most advanced technology firms in the West. Do these realities align with the distortions you are being told about Iran and its people?”

Pezeshkian has said “the world stands at crossroads”, and argues that continuing on a path of hostility toward Iran is “more costly and futile than ever before”.

He describes the choice between confrontation and engagement as “both real and consequential,” warning that its outcome will “shape the future for generations to come”.