‘A mirage’: Iranian President takes a swipe at Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu over offer to help with water crisis

“A regime that deprives people of Gaza from water and food says it will bring water to Iran? A MIRAGE, NOTHING MORE,” he said in a sharp rebuke.

A regime that deprives #Gaza of water and food now says it will bring water to Iran?
A MIRAGE, NOTHING MORE. https://t.co/1Mqvg71FrB

— Masoud Pezeshkian (@drpezeshkian) August 13, 2025

During a Cabinet meeting in Tehran, the Iranian president also said that “those with a deceptive appearance are falsely claiming compassion for the people of Iran.”

“First look at the difficult situation of Gaza and (their) defenceless people, especially children who are struggling … because of hunger, lack of access to potable water and medicine, because of a siege by the brutal regime.”

Netanyahu, in a video message, called on Iranians to “take risks for freedom,” “take to the streets” and demand accountability from the country’s government. He vowed to bring Israeli water experts to provide “cutting-edge technology and know-how” to Tehran, once the country is “free” from its current regime, according to Israeli media.

‘We do not have water’

Pezeshkian, on Sunday (Aug 10), told a group of officials that “we do not have water, we do not have water under our feet, and we do not have water behind our dams, so you tell me what do we do? Someone comes and tells me what do I have to do?”

He said that “we are in a serious and unimaginable crisis,” adding that his administration was in touch with experts who were working to find a solution to the problem.

In June, Israel launched a missile salvo targeting Iran, killing 1,100 people, including several military commanders.

Iran retaliated and carried out a wave of airstrikes, killing 28 people in Israel.

(With inputs from AP)