Israel’s UN envoy says Iran war was US decision, rejects blaming Israel for economic fallout

Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, has said the United States, not Israel, made the decision to go to war with Iran, describing attempts to hold Israel responsible for the war’s economic consequences as “unfair”.

Danon made the remarks in an interview with Israeli broadcaster i24NEWS on Wednesday evening, responding to comments by US Vice-President JD Vance, who linked the Republican Party’s losses in Tuesday’s midterm elections to the war with Iran, amid calls to reconsider US-Israeli relations.

“I think it’s unfortunate that many made the link between rising prices, mainly oil prices, and the situation here in Israel,” Danon said.

“The decision to attack Iran was the decision of the United States. It wasn’t our decision. We supported the US effort, and we think it was the right decision,” he added.

Asked about the possibility of Washington and Tehran reaching an agreement, Danon said the decision is up to US President Donald Trump.

“We will always do whatever is necessary to protect ourselves. We have proved that in the past and will continue to do so in the future,” he said.

Danon claimed that Iran “threatens not only Israel but also US targets in the Middle East, including embassies and American personnel”.

The United States and Israel launched a war against Iran on 28 February, before a ceasefire was reached in April. However, no final peace agreement has been reached, and tensions and fears of renewed confrontation continue.

On Wednesday, Vance said the war with Iran was the main reason for the Republican Party’s losses in Tuesday’s elections, which resulted in Democrats taking control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

US media investigations revealed in March that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had urged Trump, during a telephone call before the war, to seize an intelligence opportunity to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.