Araghchi says Netanyahu pushes US toward war to avoid jail

Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, accused Benjamin Netanyahu late on Sunday of dragging the United States into another war to avoid prison.

Araghchi made the charge in a post on X. He used it to warn Washington against any new military action against Iran, and he aimed the message at both leaders.

“Netanyahu is driving America into another war to stay out of jail,” he wrote. He added that the Israeli leader ignores the cost to Israel and to Donald Trump.

Araghchi answers Trump’s endorsement

His post followed Trump’s endorsement of Netanyahu earlier on Sunday, nine days before Israel’s October 27 election.

Trump praised their partnership in confronting Iran. He wrote that if Israel has the wrong leader, America will have to do this work itself, and he is not inclined to.

Araghchi answered with a challenge. Last time Washington wanted to “finish the job,” he wrote, Iran emerged stronger. He invited the US to try its luck again but warned: “we have unfinished jobs too.”

Background to the dispute

The US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on Feb. 28. Tehran then hit back with retaliatory attacks.

A ceasefire came in April, and the sides reached a framework agreement in June. Later, fighting resumed as negotiations between Washington and Tehran stalled.

Netanyahu has headed the government since late 2022. The reports describe it as the most right-wing government Israel has had.

At home, he is standing trial on corruption charges that could bring prison terms if he loses. The International Court of Justice has also wanted him since 2024 over alleged war crimes in Gaza, according to the reports.

Israeli reaction to the endorsement

Opposition parties in Israel have stepped up their coordination ahead of the vote. Polls show a deadlock between the rival blocs, and neither can win a majority without Arab parties.

Avigdor Liberman, who leads Yisrael Beytenu, reacted to the endorsement on Monday. He accused Trump of wanting to run Israel through “Bibi the puppet,” using Netanyahu’s nickname.

Liberman said Trump had claimed that Netanyahu would not attack in Beirut because Trump told him not to. He added that Israel is an independent and sovereign country, so its own citizens decide.

Liberman also credited Trump with doing a great deal for Israelis, and said any leader Israel elects can work well with him.

Trump’s message tied Netanyahu’s re-election to Iran policy. He said that anyone other than Netanyahu would leave America to handle the task alone.

Araghchi’s reply sets the Iranian view against that framing. In his telling, the Israeli leader’s legal troubles drive his push for war.

No response from Netanyahu’s office had reached reporters who covered the post. Meanwhile, Israelis head to the polls on October 27 in a race that polls call a deadlock. The result will show whether Netanyahu stays in office, and the Iran file sits at the centre of his pitch to voters.

For now, Araghchi has linked Iran’s warnings directly to the Israeli election, and both sides keep trading threats.