Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday (June 28) quipped that Israel had no choice but to “run to Daddy” to avoid being flattened by Iranian missiles, referring to US President Donald Trump’s new nickname derived from a statement by Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte.
The foreign minister warned Tel Aviv that it won’t hesitate to reveal its “true capabilities” if provoked.
“The great and powerful Iranian people, who showed the world that the Israeli regime had no choice but to run to ‘Daddy’ to avoid being flattened by our missiles, do not take kindly to threats and insults. If illusions lead to worse mistakes, Iran will not hesitate to unveil its real capabilities, which will certainly end any delusion about the power of Iran,” Araghchi posted on X.
Notably, Rutte had called Trump ‘daddy’ for using strong language against both Israel and Iran during the recent conflict between the two West Asian nations. Rutte’s response came when he was asked about Trump using the F-word on live TV after Israel and Iran continued trading missiles despite the ceasefire.
“Israel, as soon as we made the deal, they came out and they dropped a load of bombs, the likes of which I’ve never seen before, the biggest load that we’ve seen. We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the fu*k they’re doing,” Trump said.
Later, reports emerged that Israeli leadership was left “stunned” and “embarrassed” by the harsh rebuke.
Warning to Trump
Araghchi also warned Trump against using a “disrespectful and unacceptable tone” towards Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and hurting his “millions of followers”.
“If President Trump is genuine about wanting a deal, he should put aside the disrespectful and unacceptable tone towards Iran’s Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Khamenei, and stop hurting his millions of heartfelt supporters,” Araghchi said.
Araghchi’s rebuke came following a social media post by Trump on Friday in which he claimed he had prevented the assassination of the Iranian supreme leader and accused Khamenei of ingratitude.
“I knew exactly where he was sheltered, and would not let Israel, or the US armed forces, by far the greatest and most powerful in the world, terminate his life,” Trump posted.
“I saved him from a very ugly and ignominious death, and he does not have to say, ‘Thank you, President Trump!” he said.