Key facts
- Benjamin Netanyahu claimed he influenced the US decision to go to war with Iran.
- Netanyahu discussed his extensive public diplomacy campaign in American media.
- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Netanyahu of hypocrisy and manipulation.
- Netanyahu reportedly communicated directly with President Trump to advocate for military action against Iran.
- News Corp founder Rupert Murdoch also allegedly urged President Trump to confront Iran.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed he influenced the United States' decision to enter into war with Iran, boasting about his efforts to shape American public opinion and policy. Netanyahu stated on Israeli television that he effectively entrenched the US in war with Iran to advance Israeli state interests, a focus he has maintained for the past 40 years.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded to Netanyahu's remarks, calling the Israeli leader a "snake" and accusing him of speaking with a double tongue. Araghchi shared a clip from a Channel 14 interview where Netanyahu discussed his extensive public diplomacy campaign in American media, emphasizing his attempts to influence public opinion in the United States. In Hebrew, Netanyahu allegedly openly declared that he had "trapped" the American administration into war with Iran on Israel's behalf, and laughed about his "influence" through broadcasting on American networks, while in English he praised President Trump.
A Bloomberg report, corroborated by subsequent resignations and public statements, suggested that the US entry into war with Iran on February 28, 2026, was partly shaped by a private campaign led by figures outside the American government, including Netanyahu and News Corp founder Rupert Murdoch. The report indicated that Netanyahu communicated directly with President Trump, pressing the case for military action, while Murdoch allegedly made multiple calls urging Trump to confront Iran. Representatives for Murdoch did not comment. The New York Post, a publication of Murdoch's media empire, adopted an editorial stance aligned with Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth following the war's commencement and the reported death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that the US knew an Israeli action was imminent and chose to act pre-emptively rather than absorb retaliatory strikes. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had previously stated that the goal of economic measures against Iran was to topple the ayatollah regime, describing a "one-two punch" of blockade and sanctions.