As the Trump administration continues negotiations with Iran over a potential agreement, the State Department is also taking a different approach by speaking directly to the Iranian people through a new Persian-language message set to air on international media outlets.
According to a video obtained by Fox News Digital, the message bypasses Iran’s leadership and focuses instead on the country’s citizens, emphasizing that the United States distinguishes between the Iranian people and the government that rules them.
“The Iranian people are not the problem,” the video states. “A leadership that fears openness and chooses confrontation over opportunity is the problem.”
The video is scheduled to run Thursday on Persian-language outlets Iran International and BBC Persian, both of which are widely followed by Persian-speaking audiences around the world.
The outreach comes at a significant moment for Iran. Millions of Iranians have recently regained greater access to the internet after months of restrictions and digital isolation. Iranian authorities had imposed a nationwide internet blackout during anti-government demonstrations earlier this year, later expanding those restrictions during conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. While internet monitoring organizations report that connectivity has improved in recent weeks, some limitations remain in place.
Earlier in 2026, widespread protests erupted across Iran, becoming one of the most serious challenges to the Islamic Republic in decades. Human rights organizations and international observers reported that authorities responded with mass arrests, internet shutdowns, and forceful crackdowns on demonstrators. Despite the unrest, opposition groups remain divided among various political, ethnic, and ideological factions, raising questions about whether a unified alternative to the current government exists.
Throughout the State Department video, a narrator speaking in Farsi highlights themes of opportunity, freedom, and self-determination. The message portrays Iran as a nation with significant potential and suggests that its citizens are capable of building a more prosperous future.
“When Americans see Iran, we see a great people with a rich history and a generation full of talent and potential,” the video states. “Today, millions of Iranians want what people everywhere want: opportunity, stability, a chance to speak freely, and live without fear.”
The message also emphasizes that Iran’s future should be determined by its people rather than by fear or intimidation.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott said the administration believes it is important to communicate directly with Iranian citizens rather than relying on messages filtered through the government.
“The Iranian people deserve to hear the truth directly,” Piggott told Fox News Digital. He added that the United States’ dispute has long been with Iran’s government rather than its citizens, accusing the regime of prioritizing support for terrorism and nuclear ambitions over the well-being of the Iranian people.
The campaign creates a unique dynamic for the administration, which is simultaneously engaged in negotiations with Iranian officials while publicly criticizing the country’s leadership. The message closely aligns with comments made by President Donald Trump and other administration officials earlier this year, who expressed support for Iranian protesters and drew a distinction between the government and the public.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed that sentiment in March following U.S. military strikes known as Operation Epic Fury.
“We hope the Iranian people can overthrow the government,” Rubio said at the time.
Despite ongoing diplomatic discussions, major differences remain between Washington and Tehran, including disputes over Iran’s nuclear program, economic sanctions, and security concerns involving the Strait of Hormuz.
For now, the administration appears to be pursuing a two-track strategy: continuing negotiations with Iran’s government while simultaneously delivering a message of support and encouragement directly to the Iranian people.
