TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Ministry Abbas Aragchi has sharply criticised the destructive role of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in exacerbating regional instability and undermining diplomatic efforts between Iran and the United States.
In a social media X post on Monday, Araguchi condemned Washington’s “fatal” support for Israeli attacks in Gaza and Yemen, stressing that these interventions have brought nothing to the American people while promoting further violence and human suffering.
He warned that Netanyahu is openly dictating US policies, trying to control President Trump’s diplomatic approach to Iran, and actively interfering with the internal work of the US government to drag it into another devastating conflict in the region.
Araguchi also mentions the Biden administration’s approval of an unprecedented $23 billion aid package for Israel, calling it a clear example of how Americans are manipulated into underwriting Tel Aviv’s destructive agenda.
Despite these provocations, Araguchi reaffirmed that the recently repeated purpose by President Trump is to ensure that “the only thing (Iran) is a nuclear weapon.” He emphasized that the only viable path forward is diplomacy based on mutual respect and mutual interest.
Iran has repeatedly declared that it would not pursue, develop or stockpile nuclear weapons. This is a commitment rooted in religious and ethical obligations. These peaceful intents have been continuously verified by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to confirm full compliance with Iran’s obligations and no evidence of diversion to military purposes was found.
In parallel, the diplomatic process between Tehran and Washington occurred through Omani mediation in Muscat and later continued in Rome, but saw careful but measurable progress. US President Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, described the ongoing indirect talks as “positive,” saying both sides are working to resume the fourth round of debate scheduled for May 3 but postponed due to the president’s future local visits.
Speaking in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, Witkov acknowledged that diplomacy remains a favorable course of action, but continued to repeat the unfounded narrative of preventing nuclear-armed Iran.
The Islamic Republic also firmly rejects attempts to expand the scope of consultations, including issues that remain sovereign and are not subject to external dictattacks.