Iran FM accuses ‘serpent’ Netanyahu of tricking US into war

Iran FM accuses ‘serpent’ Netanyahu of tricking US into war



Vessels transit the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas in southern Iran on August 10, 2026. Iran attacked US military targets in the Middle East on August 31, 2026 in retaliation for American strikes on an island in the Strait of Hormuz, the first exchange of fire for a month in a war that has engulfed the region. — AFP pic


Summary

• Iran's Foreign Minister accused Israeli PM Netanyahu of deceiving the US into war with Iran, calling him a "serpent" for influencing US media.
• The war began on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes killing Iran's supreme leader and senior officials, leading to widespread regional retaliation by Iran.
• A ceasefire in April ended major fighting, but sporadic attacks continue, with the US and Iran engaging in military actions and economic pressure tactics.

First Published: Monday, 31 Aug 2026 5:22 PM MYT


TEHRAN, Aug 31 — Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi today called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “serpent”, accusing him of tricking Washington into going to war with the Islamic republic.

“In Hebrew, Netanyahu openly crows that he suckered the U.S. Administration into a war on Iran on behalf of Israel. Netanyahu explicitly laughs about how he ‘influenced’ America through 1,000 hours of airtime on U.S. networks,” Araghchi said in a post on X.

“In English, he praises POTUS’ leadership. Serpent,” he added.


War broke out between Iran and the United States on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes killing the Islamic republic’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei along with senior military officials.


Iran retaliated with attacks across the region as the conflict continued to spread.


An April ceasefire put an end to the most intense fighting, but sporadic attacks mainly near the Strait of Hormuz have dimmed prospects for a final peace agreement, and the US recently shifted toward a campaign of what it calls “economic asphyxiation” of Iran.

The US struck the Iranian island of Larak late yesterday, its first such attack in a month.


In response, Iran says it launched attacks on bases in Jordan and the UAE used by the US military.

Last week, Netanyahu dismissed any prospect of an Iran-US deal and called Iran’s leaders “savages”. — AFP