This paper explores how the Islamic Republic of Iran constructs norms and values usually associated with the idea of a ‘western liberal world order’. The contention is two-fold. First, the paper shows that integral to the discourse of a ‘western liberal world order’ is an ‘enemy other’, namely the ‘rogue state’. The norms and values associated with these are used to legitimise and/or delegitimise an actor in the international system. Second, it is argued in the case of Iran-USA relations, the dichotomisation of faithful to liberal world order on the one hand and rogue state on the other hand, is reversed. This is evident in how Iran is equated with norms and values associated with a liberal world order. The USA, on the other hand is equated with practices and values associate with a ‘rogue state’. Consequently, Iran is legitimised and the USA is delegitimised. In terms of methodology, the paper draws on the discourse theory of Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe. Discourse theory provides appropriate tools that simultaneously exemplifies both the constructed nature of world order, the process of creating a threatening and rogue ‘other’, and power relations in the international system. This research focuses on former President Rouhani’s texts following the election of Donald Trump (2017-20). The signifiers are Amrika (Persian for the US), Trump and Kakh-i Sefid (the White House). The data shows that Rouhani systematically equates the USA with ‘terrorism’, disregard to international laws and norms, and as a ‘threat to peace and stability’. Iran on the other hand is equated with ‘peace and stability’, multilateralism and as fighting against ‘terrorism’. This is evident in relation to three events and processes: Trump’s abrogation of the 2015 JCPOA; opening a new American embassy in Jerusalem following Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital; and the assassination of Major General Qasem Soleimani. The paper provides an original contribution to two bodies of literature. It contributes Iranian foreign policy scholarship, and specifically Iran-USA relations, by showing how Iranian foreign policy relates to the wider issue of world order in the international system. It contributes to world order scholarship by highlighting the agency of a regional power in the Global South that has often been seen as a ‘rogue state’. Extant scholarship tends to focus on Russia and China.