Fact Check: "Netanyahu began this war with his attack on Iran, sabotaged US-Iran negotiations on nuclear issues and assassinated Ali Shamkhani.

Fact Check: "Netanyahu began this war with his attack on Iran, sabotaged US-Iran negotiations on nuclear issues and assassinated Ali Shamkhani."

What We Know

The claim that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu initiated the recent conflict with Iran through military action is supported by several sources. On June 13, 2025, Israel launched a series of airstrikes targeting Iranian military and nuclear facilities, which resulted in significant casualties, including the deaths of key Iranian military leaders and nuclear scientists, among them Ali Shamkhani, a prominent figure overseeing Iran's nuclear negotiations with the United States. Following these attacks, Iranian officials indicated that they would suspend ongoing negotiations with the U.S. regarding nuclear issues, suggesting that the strikes were indeed aimed at sabotaging these diplomatic efforts (source-3, source-5).

Additionally, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders publicly stated that Netanyahu's actions were a direct cause of the escalation, asserting that the assassination of Shamkhani was a deliberate move to undermine U.S.-Iran negotiations (source-3). This aligns with observations from various analysts who noted that the Israeli strikes appeared to be a calculated effort to disrupt any potential diplomatic agreements (source-4, source-7).

Analysis

The evidence supporting the claim is substantial, particularly regarding the assertion that Netanyahu's military actions precipitated the conflict. The timing of the Israeli strikes coincided with ongoing diplomatic efforts, and the targeted assassination of Shamkhani, who played a crucial role in those negotiations, further underscores this point. The New York Times reported that the strikes were part of a broader strategy to weaken Iran's military capabilities, which included high-profile assassinations.

However, while the claim that Netanyahu "sabotaged" U.S.-Iran negotiations is plausible, it is essential to consider the broader context of Israeli-Iranian relations. The animosity between these two nations has been longstanding, with Israel perceiving Iran's nuclear ambitions as an existential threat. Thus, while Netanyahu's actions can be viewed as a catalyst for the current conflict, they are also part of a larger pattern of hostility that predates this specific incident.

Moreover, the reliability of the sources varies. While mainstream media outlets like the New York Times and Al Jazeera provide credible reporting, some opinions, such as those from Bernie Sanders, may carry political bias, reflecting his long-standing opposition to Netanyahu's policies. This potential bias should be taken into account when evaluating the motivations behind the statements made by political figures (source-3).

Conclusion

The claim that Netanyahu began the war with his attack on Iran, sabotaged U.S.-Iran negotiations, and assassinated Ali Shamkhani is Partially True. There is credible evidence that Netanyahu's military actions directly contributed to the escalation of conflict and disrupted diplomatic negotiations. However, it is also important to recognize the historical context of Israeli-Iranian relations, which complicates the narrative of these events as solely a result of Netanyahu's decisions.

Fact Check: "Netanyahu began this war with his attack on Iran, sabotaged US-Iran negotiations on nuclear issues and assassinated Ali Shamkhani.