Netanyahu Boasts His 'Influence' Helped Push Trump to Attack Iran, Credits '1,000 Hours' on US TV

Benjamin Netanyahu has drawn fresh controversy after appearing to boast that years of appearances on American television helped bring the United States around to his position on Iran before Washington joined Israel in attacking the country.

The Israeli prime minister made the remarks during a Hebrew-language interview on Channel 14, where he discussed his decades-long campaign against Tehran. Netanyahu said he had opposed Iran for nearly 40 years, but suggested it took much longer to convince Washington to adopt his view.

He credited that shift partly to his influence in the United States, built through repeated media appearances and personal familiarity with US leaders.

'I was able to do this because I had close to a thousand hours on American television, influence in the United States, and intimate knowledge of all its leaders,' Netanyahu said, according to reports on the clip.

The comments quickly drew attention because Netanyahu appeared to credit his own influence in the United States with helping shift Washington toward his position on Iran.

Iran Accuses Him of Tricking Trump

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi seized on the clip on 31 August, accusing Netanyahu of manipulating Washington into fighting on Israel's behalf.

'In Hebrew, Netanyahu openly crows that he suckered the U.S. Administration into a war on Iran on behalf of Israel,' Araghchi wrote on X, according to multiple reports.

He added that Netanyahu 'explicitly laughs' about influencing America through '1,000 hours of airtime on US networks.' Araghchi also called the Israeli leader a 'serpent.'

Araghchi portrayed Netanyahu as saying one thing to an Israeli audience in Hebrew while publicly praising Trump's leadership in English.

Remarks Land During Iran War

The comments came as the US-Iran conflict entered another volatile phase. The United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran on 28 February, targeting Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure.

More recently, the US carried out strikes on Iranian launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting retaliation from Tehran and raising fears of another escalation. The timing gave Netanyahu's remarks added significance as US-Iran hostilities again escalated.

Earlier Push to 'Tighten the Siege'

Netanyahu had already described his private discussions with Trump over Iran in remarks broadcast days earlier. He said the two leaders discussed three options during a July meeting in Washington: a deal with Tehran, military action, or intensified pressure.

Netanyahu said he urged Trump to consider 'tightening the siege' on Iran and expressed doubt that any agreement could be reached with what he called 'those savages' in Tehran.

The remarks appeared to align with Washington's expanded sanctions push. The US Treasury recently expanded sanctions authorities to cover Iran's aviation, digital asset, gold, shipping and technology sectors.

Netanyahu's comments also come less than two months before Israel's 27 October election, where his handling of multiple wars and relations with Washington are expected to dominate the campaign. The Channel 14 remarks may reinforce Netanyahu's image as a leader capable of shaping US policy and keeping Iran under pressure. But they also risk fuelling accusations from his critics that he is boasting to Israeli voters about his influence over Washington's decision-making.