Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has sharply criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling him a “poisonous snake” and accusing him of deploying toxic tactics to maneuver the United States into a war against Iran.
In a statement posted on X on Monday (August 31, 2026), Araghchi asserted that while speaking in Hebrew, Netanyahu openly bragged and joked about manipulating US policymakers into war. However, when switching to English, Netanyahu strategically lavished praise on US President Donald Trump’s leadership.
Araghchi added that the Israeli Prime Minister spent nearly 1,000 hours appearing in US media to sway public opinion and mislead decision-makers, effectively using Washington as a scapegoat to serve his own regional agenda.
Meanwhile, military escalations have intensified across the region. US forces struck Iranian rocket launch systems on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Iranian counter-strikes targeting US military bases in Jordan and the UAE. These retaliatory measures have escalated fears of a full-scale Middle Eastern conflict and triggered severe volatility in global energy markets.
Iranian leadership argues that Netanyahu exploited prolonged media exposure and political lobbying to influence US public opinion and drag Washington into an unnecessary conflict.
The military exchanges in and around the Strait of Hormuz—a vital maritime artery for global trade—pose severe risks to international supply chains and broader macroeconomic stability.
