Israel Only Beneficiary Of Iran-Gulf Rift, Says Iran FM, While Denying US Pickaxe Mountain Claims
According to the Jerusalem Post, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has accused Israel of being the only beneficiary of growing tensions between Iran and Gulf countries, while rejecting US claims about activity at Iran’s heavily fortified Pickaxe Mountain site.
Araghchi’s comments come amid heightened regional tensions and efforts to manage relations between Tehran and Gulf states as the wider conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel continues.
The Iranian foreign minister argued that divisions between Iran and its Gulf neighbors ultimately serve Israel’s strategic interests by weakening regional cooperation and increasing mistrust among countries surrounding the Persian Gulf.
His remarks came as questions mounted over the future of diplomatic contacts between Iran and Gulf states, particularly amid escalating disputes surrounding the Strait of Hormuz and attacks affecting regional shipping.
At the same time, Tehran has rejected US allegations concerning Pickaxe Mountain, an underground complex near Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility that Washington and Israeli officials have closely monitored.
US President Donald Trump had warned last week that the United States could strike Pickaxe Mountain and urged Iran to exercise caution. Trump said Washington could take military action if Tehran continued activities at the site.
Iran has disputed claims that the facility is being used for prohibited nuclear activity. However, satellite imagery reviewed by analysts indicates that construction and other activity at the site has increased significantly during 2026. The Center for Strategic and International Studies said the imagery shows continued excavation, reinforced tunnel entrances and increased road activity, although the available evidence cannot establish that uranium enrichment is taking place there.
The International Atomic Energy Agency has also sought information about Pickaxe Mountain and access to the facility. Iran has not provided the agency with access, according to the CSIS analysis.
The dispute over the site has added another dangerous dimension to the confrontation between Washington and Tehran. Trump has repeatedly suggested that the United States could target the facility, while Iranian officials have warned against further attacks on the country.
For Tehran, however, the growing dispute with Gulf states represents a broader regional challenge. Iranian officials have sought to portray the tensions as part of an effort to isolate Iran and undermine its relations with neighboring countries.
Araghchi’s assertion that Israel is the “only beneficiary” reflects Tehran’s longstanding argument that regional divisions ultimately strengthen Israel’s position.
The comments come as Gulf countries face increasing pressure to balance their security relationships with Washington against their economic and diplomatic interests in maintaining stable relations with Iran.
Meanwhile, the continuing controversy over Pickaxe Mountain threatens to further complicate attempts to reduce tensions. With Washington maintaining that Iran must not rebuild its nuclear capabilities and Tehran rejecting US accusations, the facility has emerged as a potential flashpoint in an already volatile confrontation.
The dispute also comes as international concern over Iran’s nuclear program has intensified, with the IAEA recently escalating the issue to the United Nations after disagreements over inspections and information about Iran’s nuclear activities.
For now, Iran insists that regional cooperation, rather than confrontation, is the path to stability, while Washington continues to warn Tehran against actions it considers threatening. The competing positions leave little room for error as diplomatic tensions, Gulf security concerns and the unresolved nuclear dispute converge.
COURTESY: NewsUpdate105
