Iran accuses US of betrayal in Israel clash

Tehran/Tel Aviv: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian unleashed a scathing indictment of the United States, accusing it of duplicity for coordinating with Israel during indirect nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington. In a phone call with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif today, Pezeshkian warned that Israel’s continued aggression would provoke a “more powerful and severe” response from Iran’s Armed Forces, escalating a volatile standoff. Hours later, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to crush Iran’s nuclear ambitions under Operation Rising Lion, claiming U.S. President Donald Trump’s unwavering support in a mission to protect Israel, its Arab allies, and the free world.

Pezeshkian thanked Pakistan for condemning Israel’s actions at a United Nations Security Council meeting on last night, charging that the Zionist regime flouts all international regulations with U.S. and Western backing. “War has its own rules, but the regime violates them due to such support,” he said, stressing that Iran’s robust defence is vital to prevent daily massacres by a “criminal and child-killing regime.” He claimed Iran had destroyed Israel’s stealth military equipment and promised fiercer retaliation if attacks persist, underscoring the need to bolster defence capabilities. Despite Iran’s commitment to fostering peace and security regionally and globally, Pezeshkian said U.S.-Israel coordination amid ongoing talks exposes Washington’s dishonesty, shattering trust in diplomacy.

Sharif echoed Tehran’s outrage, condemning Israel’s aggression as a breach of international laws and the UN Charter. He condemned the violation of Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity —an affront to international law & the UN Charter. “Iran has every right to self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter,” he said. He also expressed his gratefulness to President Pezeshkian for appreciation of Pakistan’s “unwavering and principled” position at the UN Security Council, calling out Israel’s “blatant” aggression against Iran, Palestine and others in the region. He offered condolences for martyred Iranian civilians, officials, and scientists, lamenting Israel’s impunity. Hoping for peace and tranquillity, Sharif pledged Pakistan’s aid to repatriate Iranian Hajj pilgrims and asked Pezeshkian to convey greetings to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, cementing Pakistan’s solidarity.

In a defiant counterpoint, Netanyahu framed Israel’s campaign as a bulwark against a “tyrannical and radical” Iranian regime bent on building atomic bombs and intercontinental ballistic missiles to threaten Israel, its Arab neighbors, Arab friends in peace, Europe, and the U.S. Wishing Trump a happy birthday and saluting the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary, he praised Trump’s decisive leadership and current efforts to shield Israeli lives. Netanyahu accused Iran of bombing Israeli civilian neighbourhoods while Israel targets terrorists, citing Iran’s past attacks: bombing U.S. embassies, killing 241 Marines in Beirut, injuring thousands with IEDs in Iraq and Afghanistan, attempting to assassinate Trump twice, burning U.S. flags, and chanting “death to America.” “Our enemy is your enemy,” he declared, aligning Israel’s fight with global security.

Netanyahu revealed Israel’s elimination of Iran’s senior military leaders and technologists driving its nuclear race, warning that pilots over Tehran would deliver unimaginable blows to the Ayatollah’s regime. Claiming Iranian leaders are “packing their bags,” he cited intelligence that Iran planned to arm terrorist proxies with nuclear weapons, a threat he called “nuclear terrorism on steroids.” With Trump’s clear support, Netanyahu said Israel defends not only itself but also its Arab friends in peace and the broader free world. He also met mayors of Rishon LeZion, Tel Aviv, and Ramat Gan, expressing sorrow for three residents killed by Iranian rocket fire and promising government aid to repair missile damage, a poignant reminder of the conflict’s toll.

As Iran and Israel hurl accusations in a high-stakes geopolitical duel, Pezeshkian’s call for stronger defences and Netanyahu’s pledge to strike Tehran cast a long shadow over peace prospects. With Iran decrying U.S. betrayal and Israel claiming a mandate to thwart nuclear terror, the region teeters on the edge of escalation, watched anxiously by a world craving stability.

– global bihari bureau