Iran FM accuses 'serpent' Netanyahu of tricking US into war

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a "serpent" on Monday, accusing him of tricking Washington into war with Iran.

Araghchi made the claim on X, citing Netanyahu's own comments about influencing US policy through media appearances. The accusation comes as fighting between Iran, Israel and the US continues to spread across the region.

What did Iran's foreign minister say about Netanyahu tricking the US into war?

Araghchi said Netanyahu boasts in Hebrew about deceiving the US into fighting Israel's war, while praising American leadership in English. He referenced Netanyahu's remarks about shaping US opinion through roughly 1,000 hours of television airtime. Araghchi ended his post on X by calling the Israeli leader a "serpent."

"In Hebrew, Netanyahu openly crows that he suckered the U.S. Administration into a war on Iran on behalf of Israel," Araghchi wrote. "In English, he praises POTUS' leadership. Serpent," he added.

How did the Iran-US war begin?

War broke out between Iran and the United States on February 28, when US and Israeli strikes killed Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. Senior Iranian military officials were also killed in the same strikes. Iran retaliated with attacks across the region, and the conflict continued to spread.

Is there a ceasefire between Iran and the US?

An April ceasefire ended the most intense phase of the fighting between the two sides. Sporadic attacks, mainly near the Strait of Hormuz, have since dimmed prospects for a lasting peace deal. The US recently shifted its approach toward what it calls a campaign of "economic asphyxiation" against Iran.

What happened in the latest round of strikes?

The US struck the Iranian island of Larak late Sunday, marking its first such attack in a month. Iran said it responded by launching attacks on bases in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates used by the US military. Last week, Netanyahu dismissed any prospect of a deal between Iran and the US and described Iran's leaders as "savages."