Iranian foreign minister appears to threaten US over knowledge of Israel’s planned retaliatory strike

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi appeared to threaten the U.S. government over knowledge of Israel’s planned retaliatory strike. 

“Anybody with knowledge or understanding of "how and when Israel was going to attack Iran", and/or providing the means and backing for such folly, should logically be held accountable for any possible causality,” Araghchi posted on 𝕏 early Saturday morning. 

Anybody with knowledge or understanding of "how and when Israel was going to attack Iran", and/or providing the means and backing for such folly, should logically be held accountable for any possible causality.https://t.co/aLyJDw1NGp

— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) October 18, 2024

Araghchi was evidently responding to comments made by U.S. President Joe Biden shortly before his trip to Germany over the weekend. Before his departure, a reporter asked Biden if he had an understanding of Israel’s planned retaliatory strike on Iran following the Oct. 1 Iranian ballistic missile attack. 

“Do you have a good understanding right now what Israel is going to do in response to Iran’s October 1st attacks and when they will actually respond to Iran?” the reporter asked. 

“Yes and yes,” Biden answered. 

When asked if he would share that info, Biden responded, “No and no.” 

Araghchi's 𝕏 post linked to a short Reuters article in which Biden was quoted saying the U.S. and its allies believe they can “deal with Israel and Iran in a way that ends the conflict for a while.” 

While that article contained few details regarding Biden’s knowledge of Israel’s plans, an Iranian-affiliated Telegram channel called Middle East Spectator leaked “Top Secret” U.S. documents that it claimed came from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency. 

The documents appeared to indicate that Israel is planning a significant attack soon. 

It is unclear who leaked the documents to the Telegram channel, which has a history of posts supporting Hamas, Hezbollah and other Iranian proxies. 

The U.S. government is investigating the source of the leaks, according to a CNN report.

An unnamed government official confirmed that the documents are authentic but did not provide any further details except that an investigation is examining who had access to the documents. 

Some Israeli social media users were quick to note past incidents involving security breaches by Iran-affiliated analysts employed by the Biden administration. 

CNN quoted Mick Mulroy, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East, and a retired CIA officer.

“If it was true that Israeli tactical plans to respond to Iran’s attack on October 1 were leaked, it was a serious breach.” 

Mulroy also said the leak may have negative consequences for U.S.-Israeli relations. 

“The future coordination between the US and Israel could have been challenged as well. Trust is a key component in the relationship, and depending on how this was leaked, that trust could have eroded,” Mulroy said. 

Notably, over the weekend, former U.S. President Donald Trump said he recently spoke to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who indicated that he “wouldn’t listen to Biden.” 

“Bibi called me today and he said, it’s incredible. What’s happened, they said it’s pretty incredible. But he wouldn’t listen to Biden, because if he did, they wouldn’t be in this position,” Trump told the crowds at a recent campaign event.

"And I tell you what, they're in a much stronger position now than they were three months ago, that's for sure.”