Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said his exclusion from participating in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, was under pressure from Israel and its allies in the United States.
The WEF announced the decision to disinvite the Iranian foreign minister on Monday, citing concerns over Iran’s recent response to protests.
Araghchi was slated to appear at the forum on Tuesday. The WEF stated that his participation would not be “right” following what it described as Tehran’s “deadly crackdown on demonstrations” across the country.
In a post on X, Araghchi refuted the WEF’s claims, stating that Iran was forced to defend its citizens against armed terrorists and massacres in the style of ISIS, clearly supported by Mossad.
The controversy stems from protests that erupted in Iran in late 2025, initially sparked by economic grievances. The demonstrations escalated into violence in early January, resulting in casualties and injuries. Iranian officials maintain that the presence of foreign forces linked to Israel and the US and terrorist groups within the gatherings triggered violence, forcing response from security forces.
Araghchi sharply criticized the WEF’s decision, drawing a comparison to the forum’s continued engagement with Israeli officials. He said the irony is that the genocide of Palestinians by Israel and the mass killing of 71,000 innocent people did not prompt the World Economic Forum to cancel invitations to Israeli officials.
In fact, Herzog even had a victory lap in Davos in January 2024, even as he faced criminal charges in Switzerland for an apparent genocide in Gaza, he added.
He urged the WEF to maintain consistency if it intends to project an ethical stance. The top diplomat said the double standard on display is only a sign of moral decay and intellectual bankruptcy, stressing that people have the right to know the truth and judge for themselves, and shame is only for those who think otherwise.
Araghchi accompanied his post with a documentary film titled “Operation Day 13,” which he said details the events in Iran and the involvement of terrorist elements linked to the US and Israel.
