‘Saving himself with US blood’: Iran tears into Netanyahu, calls him ‘wanted war criminal’

Iran launched a scathing attack on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, describing him as a "wanted war criminal" with "Arab, American and Iranian blood on his hands".

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi accused Netanyahu of hiding behind the US while putting American lives and resources at stake amid the West Asia conflict.

On Saturday, Araghchi shared a post on X in which he criticised Netanyahu's handling of the conflict with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

"Netanyahu is a wanted war criminal with Arab, American and Iranian blood on his hands. To escape justice, he has no regard for his own people either. Like a degenerate gambler, he's desperately seeking to save himself with more US blood and treasure. Even US senators want out," Araghchi posted.

Araghchi shared an interview with an Israeli general who reportedly alerted Netanyahu on the morning of the Hamas-led attack on 7 October 2023. The discussion focused on how the Israeli leadership responded to the unfolding situation.

Netanyahu received warnings about a potential war ahead of the 7 October attacks

The claims raised in the interview included allegations that Netanyahu had received warnings about a potential war three months in advance, that logs documenting events on 7 October had been altered, and that efforts to secure the release of hostages could have produced results earlier.

Netanyahu travelling despite International Criminal Court arrest warrants

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict.

In September, the Israeli prime minister flew to New York. He crossed the airspace of three countries that were bound by a treaty to arrest him. He then delivered a combative address to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), all the while remaining the subject of an ICC arrest warrant.

Flight-tracking app Flightradar24 showed his plane crossing Greece, Italy and France. All three are parties to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the Hague-based ICC and obliges its members to arrest suspects on their territory.

France said allowing the flight broke no rules. In New York, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who had campaigned on a promise to arrest Netanyahu if he came to the American city, had already conceded that he had no power to do so.