Washington is Responsible: Araghchi Says Netanyahu Tricked U.S. into War | DISCUSS

On Wednesday, March 18, 2026, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi intensified his rhetoric against the West, claiming that the United States was "drawn into" the current regional war by the strategic manipulation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera, Araghchi asserted that the conflict is not in the interest of the American people but is a "misadventure engineered by Israel".

---

"This is America’s War"

The Foreign Minister placed the ultimate responsibility for the escalating regional violence on Washington, arguing that U.S. military support has emboldened Israel to strike Iranian leadership:

The "Tricked" Narrative: Araghchi’s comments align with a growing narrative in Tehran—and among some resigned U.S. officials like former NCTC Director Joe Kent—that Israel used "misinformation" to provoke a direct U.S. military intervention against Iran.

Washington’s Responsibility: "This is not our war, nor the war of the American people... This is a war chosen by the United States," Araghchi stated. He warned that the U.S. military presence in the Gulf makes further escalation "unavoidable".

Netanyahu's "Punch Card": The remarks come just hours after Prime Minister Netanyahu released a provocative video showing a "target list" of Iranian officials, claiming he had already "erased" two names (referring to the deaths of Ali Larijani and Gholamreza Soleimani).

---

Warning to Gulf Neighbors

Araghchi used the platform to issue a stern warning to neighboring Arab states that continue to host U.S. military bases:

"Unintended Consequences": While denying that Iran intentionally targets civilians, he admitted that attacks on U.S. assets in the region have led to "unintended consequences" in neighboring countries.

Strait of Hormuz: He signaled that Iran may implement "new rules for navigation" through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, effectively suggesting that the passage will remain closed to "America and its allies" while remaining open to others.

No Ceasefire: Araghchi explicitly rejected the idea of a temporary ceasefire, stating that Iran is only interested in a "complete and permanent end" to the aggression.

---

The State of the Iranian Regime

Despite the loss of several top security officials this week, Araghchi insisted that the Islamic Republic's political structure is "very solid":

Succession: He noted that the new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, provides "continuity and stability," though he admitted it is too soon to judge the new leader's specific stance on nuclear fatwas.

Sacrifice: "Even a foreign minister might be a target... if necessary, we will sacrifice our lives for those goals," he told the interviewer when asked if he feared assassination following the recent strikes in Tehran.