Abbas Araghchi says Israel makes 'imaginary threat' out of Iran

Foreign Minister dismisses claims that Tehran developing rockets capable of striking US

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed Israeli concerns about Iran's missile programme. Reuters

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that Israel is conjuring an "imaginary threat” after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that Tehran was developing rockets capable of reaching US cities.

In an interview with US podcaster Ben Shapiro, released on Monday, Mr Netanyahu said Iran is developing “intercontinental ballistic missiles with an 8,000km range”.

"What does that mean? They add another 3,000km and they've got under their guns … New York City in target, Washington, Boston, Miami, Mar-a-Lago,” the Israeli leader said, referring to the Florida residence of US President Donald Trump.

Mr Araghchi responded on Tuesday by writing on X that Israel was wrongly trying to portray Iran's military as a danger.

"Israel is now trying to make an imaginary threat out of our defence capabilities,” he said.

Iran is estimated by a report released to the US Congress in the summer to possess a large arsenal of domestically produced ballistic missiles, including Shahab-3 rockets with a range of 2,000km – enough to reach Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran is developing 'intercontinental ballistic missiles for 8,000km range'. AP

Western powers and Israel have also long suspected that Iran is seeking to build a nuclear bomb and missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Iran denies the claims, insisting its nuclear programme is for civilian energy only.

In June, tension came to a head during a 12-day war that erupted after the Israeli army attacked military, political and nuclear sites inside Iran.

The US also joined the bombing, carrying out air strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Tehran responded with missile and drone attacks against Israel as well as a strike on the largest US airbase in the Middle East, located in Qatar.

Mr Araghchi addressed claims made before the war that Iran was close to completing development of a nuclear bomb.

"There was certainly no 'intelligence' that Iran was 'within a month' of developing a nuclear weapon,” he wrote.

He said Israel had deceived the US into attacking Iran.

Since a June 24 ceasefire, Iranian political and military officials have warned of a possible renewed conflict with Israel, saying they are prepared for war but do not seek it.

Israeli politician and former minister Avigdor Lieberman has also warned Israelis they should prepare for a new round of fighting, although his comments have prompted accusations that he is simply seeking political attention.

On Friday, Mr Lieberman posted on X that Iran is “working diligently” and “it seems that this time the Iranians are trying to surprise us”.

In a lengthy post the following day, he listed reasons that “add up to a very worrying picture” of why more fighting was expected. These reasons included military drills in Iran, media reports of activity at nuclear and ballistic missile sites, as well as Germany, France and Britain activating snapback sanctions against Tehran.

“We left the Iranians in the state of a wounded animal, and this is the most dangerous situation,” Mr Lieberman said.

However, a senior security official, who declined to be identified, told Israeli reporters that Mr Lieberman was detached from reality.

“Lieberman is sailing through space like a UFO that has been separated from its mothership, cut off from all contact and information, and is emitting uncontrolled rhetoric. His attempt to scare the Israeli public on the issue of Iran in order to get attention, as part of the struggle for prominence among opposition leaders, is both pitiful and worrying,” the official said.

Responding on X, Mr Lieberman posted: “If the mothership had listened to 'UFO' - we wouldn't have got the October 7th massacre.”