Araghchi says Netanyahu is driving the US into another war 'to stay out of jail'

Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday of trying to drag the United States into a fresh war with Iran to save himself from prosecution, a day after Donald Trump threw his weight behind the Israeli leader ahead of next week’s election.

“Netanyahu is driving America into another war to stay out of jail,” Araghchi wrote on X. Addressing Washington, he added: “Last time you wanted to ‘finish the job,’ Iran emerged even stronger.”

The phrase echoed Netanyahu’s own. On a call with Trump, the Israeli leader invoked Iran and said, “We have a job to finish.” Visiting an air base on Monday, he warned Israel’s enemies: “Do not test us.” Trump has endorsed Netanyahu before the 27 October vote and suggested Washington might have to act itself if Israelis chose someone else.

Guards say US cannot fight again

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards struck a similar note. Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi, the IRGC spokesman, said US forces were “exhausted and worn out”.

“From a technical and military standpoint, the United States lacks the capability to launch a new conflict,” he said. “We do not rule out any possibilities and are prepared to respond. This time, our response will be much more forceful.”

Mohebbi said the coming US midterm elections might tempt Washington to “manufacture some achievements”, and claimed the Guards’ capabilities were now “at least 1.5 times greater than in the past.”

The exchange came as Araghchi hosted Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Tehran, where Lavrov called Iran’s cause just and urged a return to pre-war conditions in the Strait of Hormuz.

Pakistan and Qatar, which signed a memorandum as mediators between Tehran and Washington in June, say they are still working to keep the two sides talking. Israel goes to the polls in eight days.