Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on platform X a severe condemnation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, comparing him to a "viper" and accusing the Israeli leader of deceiving the US government into starting a war with Iran for Israel's interests.
On Monday, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi strongly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling him a "viper" and accusing Netanyahu of tricking the US government into joining a war against Iran to serve Israel's interests.
Araghchi posted on platform X that Netanyahu openly spoke in Hebrew about how he could "trick" the US government into waging war on Iran on Israel's behalf. Araghchi said Netanyahu laughed while discussing how he "influences" the US through about 1,000 hours of appearances on American television networks.
The Iranian Foreign Minister added that when speaking English, Netanyahu praised the US president’s leadership before concluding that the "viper" remark reflected Iran's strong displeasure with Netanyahu's role in pushing US policy against Iran.
The war between Iran and the US erupted on 28 February following US and Israeli strikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several senior Iranian military officials. Iran retaliated with attacks on various regional targets, broadening the conflict.
Although a ceasefire in April ended the most intense fighting, sporadic attacks, especially near the Strait of Hormuz, continue, diminishing hopes for a permanent peace agreement. Recently, the US shifted its approach to what its government calls "economic pressure" on Iran, aiming to strain Tehran’s economy and revenue sources.
Iranian authorities released video footage they claim shows missile and drone strikes as part of operations targeting the US Air Force bases "King Hussein" and "Al-Azraq" in Jordan. However, they did not specify the exact time or location of the attacks shown. The clip came after the US military launched strikes on two missile bases on Iran’s Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz yesterday, marking the first US attack on Iran since late July.
These developments raised concerns that confrontations between the two sides might escalate again, despite earlier efforts to broker a conflict-ending agreement. Last week, Netanyahu expressed opposition to any US-Iran deal and called Iran’s leaders "barbarians."
Araghchi’s recent remarks directly respond to the Israeli Prime Minister’s stance and highlight the intense diplomatic conflict between Tehran and the Israeli government.
Iran’s allegations that Netanyahu wields influence over the US government through American media to push Washington into war with Iran have not been confirmed by either the US or Israeli governments. Meanwhile, regional tensions remain high, and the Strait of Hormuz continues to be a critical security and global energy route risk point.
. . .Mehr News Agency.AFP.