Abbas Araghchi has warned that it would be “dumb” for the United States to allow Benjamin Netanyahu to jeopardise diplomacy by continuing the war pressure around Lebanon. The Iranian foreign minister made the remarks on Thursday, tying the message to Netanyahu’s corruption trial set to resume on Sunday in Jerusalem. The warning comes as the ceasefire dispute over whether Lebanon is included continues to strain the truce and intensify the conflict.
Abbas Araghchi links Lebanon strikes to Netanyahu’s court return
In a social media post on Thursday, Abbas Araghchi said a region-wide ceasefire, including in Lebanon, would “hasten his jailing, ” referring to Netanyahu. He argued that the Israeli prime minister has a motive to keep the fighting going as his criminal trial returns to court after a wartime pause. The trial is scheduled to resume on Sunday at 9: 30 a. m. ET in the Jerusalem District Court for the testimony of a defense witness.
The context is stark: Israeli attacks on Lebanon have continued despite the ceasefire announcement, with the death toll from the recent bombardment already exceeding 300 people. On Thursday, new strikes killed four rescuers in the southern town of Borj Qalaouiye, while Israeli forces also issued a displacement order for Beirut’s Jnah area. Abbas Araghchi’s remarks framed those developments as part of a wider struggle over whether the truce can survive.
US and Israeli comments sharpen the dispute
Abbas Araghchi’s wording mirrored language used by US Vice President JD Vance, who on Wednesday warned against allowing the ceasefire to fall apart over Lebanon. Vance said, “We think that would be dumb, but that’s their choice. ” Araghchi responded directly to Washington, saying that if the US wishes to “crater its economy” by letting Netanyahu kill diplomacy, that would be its choice, adding that Iran “would be dumb” to ignore the consequences but is prepared for them.
On Thursday, US President Donald Trump said he had told the Israeli government to scale back its operations in Lebanon. He said he spoke with Netanyahu and that the Israeli leader would “low-key it. ” Vance also said on Wednesday that the Israelis agreed to “check themselves a little bit in Lebanon. ”
Still, the fighting has not eased. The dispute over whether Lebanon falls under the original ceasefire has become a major threat to the truce’s future, and Iranian officials and media outlets have suggested Tehran may respond militarily or block the Strait of Hormuz to force the issue. Abbas Araghchi’s comments reflect that mounting pressure.
Netanyahu’s trial returns to the center of the crisis
Netanyahu’s criminal trial is resuming in the middle of cross-examination in the long-running corruption case involving Cases 1000, 2000 and 4000. He was indicted in 2019 and has pleaded not guilty, denying all wrongdoing. The hearings were paused under emergency restrictions during the war with Iran, and the justice system is now returning to regular work.
Before the interruption, the proceedings were focused mainly on Case 4000, the Bezeq-Walla affair, and prosecutors had been questioning Netanyahu about the Bezeq-Yes merger, his relationship with Elovitch, and an alleged “directive meeting” with former Communications Ministry director-general Shlomo Filber. Netanyahu denied that the meeting ever took place.
For now, the political and legal tracks are running together. Abbas Araghchi has tied the renewed courtroom schedule to the fighting in Lebanon, and the next moves from Washington, Jerusalem and Tehran will determine whether the ceasefire dispute narrows or deepens in the days ahead. Abbas Araghchi made clear that Iran sees the issue as immediate, and Abbas Araghchi is now pressing the US to avoid what he calls a dangerous mistake.
