Iran’s Araghchi slams Netanyahu over missile remarks “What is he smoking?”

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi launched a scathing attack on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on July 14, mocking his calls for restrictions on Iran’s missile programme and accusing him of warmongering, hypocrisy, and political desperation.

Araghchi’s remarks, posted on X (formerly Twitter), were a direct response to Netanyahu’s recent demand that Iran must not be allowed to produce missiles with ranges exceeding 480 kilometres. The Israeli premier’s statement, delivered during a cabinet briefing, was framed as a warning to the United States and European powers currently engaged in renewed discussions with Tehran, Caliber.Az reports.

“Netanyahu pledged victory in Gaza almost two years ago. The end result: military quagmire, facing arrest warrant for war crimes, and 200,000 new Hamas recruits,” Araghchi wrote, adding that Netanyahu’s policies had only strengthened resistance forces in the region.

Turning to Iran’s nuclear and missile programmes, Araghchi accused the Israeli leader of failing to derail the country’s technological and scientific progress. “In Iran, he dreamed that he could erase 40+ years of peaceful nuclear achievements. The end result: every one of the dozen Iranian academics that his mercenaries martyred had trained 100+ capable disciples. They will show Netanyahu what they are capable of,” he wrote.

The Iranian diplomat also mocked Netanyahu’s perceived influence over Washington, referring to recent Israeli strikes on targets in Iran and retaliatory Iranian missile attacks. “Having miserably failed to achieve any of his war aims in Iran and compelled to run to ‘Daddy’ when our powerful missiles flattened secret Israeli regime sites-which Netanyahu is still censoring-he is openly dictating what the US should or shouldn't say or do in talks with Iran.”

Araghchi concluded with a rhetorical swipe: “Apart from farce that Iran will accept anything a wanted war criminal has to say, the inevitable question arises: what exactly is Netanyahu smoking? and if nothing, what exactly does the Mossad have on the White House?”

By Vugar Khalilov