Iran FM warns US against allowing Netanyahu to ‘crater its economy’

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned the United States against allowing Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to derail diplomacy amid the talk of possible ceasefire talks between Tehran and Washington.

In a pointed tweet on Thursday, Araghchi suggested that Netanyahu's upcoming criminal trial, which resumes this Sunday, could be a major factor in efforts to hinder peace negotiations, especially in light of his attempts to obstruct regional stability.

Araghchi’s remarks come as a two-week ceasefire between Iran and the US is likely to begin, brokered by Pakistan, to pave the way for negotiations aimed at de-escalating tensions in West Asia.

There are hopes for a broader resolution that could include a region-wide ceasefire, particularly in Lebanon.

“Netanyahu's criminal trial resumes on Sunday. A region-wide ceasefire, including in Lebanon, would hasten his jailing,” Araghchi wrote in a tweet on Thursday.

The Iranian foreign minister added that if the US allowed Netanyahu to obstruct diplomacy, it would ultimately “crater its economy.”

“If the U S wishes to crater its economy by letting Netanyahu kill diplomacy, that would ultimately be its choice,” he wrote. “We think that would be dumb but are prepared for it,” he added.

Back in November last year, US President Donald Trump in a letter called on Israeli president Isaac Herzog to issue a pardon as Netanyahu faced trial on three counts of corruption.

Trump’s letter followed remarks he made in October during an address to the Israeli parliament, where he first suggested that Herzog consider pardoning Netanyahu, who is also being prosecuted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of committing war crimes.

On Thursday, Araghchi separately reviewed brutal Israeli bombing of residential buildings in Lebanon in a telephone conversation with his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot.

Lebanon is part of the ceasefire between Iran and the US - a fact strongly confirmed by Pakistan which mediated it.

“Unfortunately, we witness sheer violations of the ceasefire and the resumption of Israel’s brutal and savage attacks on Lebanon,” Araghchi said.

He stressed that the cessation of attacks by aggressors in the region, including Lebanon, is an inseparable part of the ceasefire agreement between Iran and the US.

Araghchi called on the international community, including European countries, to halt attacks by the Zionist regime on Lebanon.

Barrot, while stressing the need to end the conflict, expressed hope that upcoming negotiations would restore stability and peace to the region. He also called for an immediate halt to the ongoing Israeli attacks on Lebanon.

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