The Iranian regime has tried to “desperately discredit” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s barnstorming speech to Congress this week with “predictable spin”, experts have told the JC.

With the American-Israeli alliance healthier than many in the regime had expected, Iranian state media focused on anti-Israel protests in Washington and Hamas’s response to Netanyahu’s speech. The close relationship between the US and Israel barely featured in Iran’s state-controlled coverage, showing that the Ayatollah was rattled.

Kasra Aarabi, Director of IRGC Research, United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), said: “The Iranian regime was desperately seeking to discredit Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech in the US and foment chaos around it.” 

Aarabi warned that protesters burning US flags in Washington "will have brought a smile to Ayatollah Khamenei’s face”. He added:

“Make no mistake, the Iranian regime and its networks abroad will try and further fuel chaos with the goal of polarising US society ahead of the presidential elections. In many ways, this regime influence operation is already in full swing.”

Jason Brodsky, policy director at UANI, said: “The response of the Islamic Republic’s spin masters is predictable. They use anti-Israel and antisemitic diatribes to deflect from their own record of atrocities and crimes against humanity against the Iranian people.

“A component of Israeli deterrence is the strength of its relationship with the United States. The perceptions of Israel’s enemies here matter... The speech goes beyond a particular political personality. It’s about the strength of the bilateral relationship over decades.”

Islamic State officials tried to dismiss Netanyahu’s speech. Massoumeh Ebtekar, Iran’s Vice President for Environmental Affairs, told AFP that she didn’t think Netanyahu’s opinion “carries much weight”.

Iran’s foreign spokesman, Nasser Kanani, condemned US officials, writing on X: "the American government and Congress are welcoming this executioner with applause... The criminal prime minister of a fake regime is embraced by his supporters after nine months of genocide and infanticide.”

During his speech, Netanyahu called for an alliance against an Iranian "axis of terror", claiming Tehran is behind almost all sectarian violence in the Middle East.

"America and Israel today can forge a security alliance in the Middle East to counter the growing Iranian threat," Netanyahu told Congress.

Despite Iranian officials dismissing Netanyahu’s US trip, the story was the biggest item across Iranian news channels on Wednesday.

Regime outlet Jamaran news led with an image of protesters setting an effigy of Netanyahu and the American and Israeli flag alight.

The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) also led with protests against Netanyahu, referring to, “the anger of American Republicans over the protests against Netanyahu's speech in Congress.” It reported that the protests were perceived to be antisemitic by Republican lawmakers.

Another outlet of the regime, Donya-e Eghtesad, headlined its story: “any alliance with Israel is a betrayal of the martyrs' blood” and reported on “Hamas's anger at Netanyahu's speech".

Donya-e Eghtesad repeated comments made by Hamas spokesperson, Abu Zuhri, who told Reuters: "Netanyahu's words were full of lies and will not succeed in covering up the failure of the resistance to cover up the war crimes and genocide that his army is committing against the people of Gaza."

Mehr News, also controlled by the regime, said that Netanyahu's speech was the worst speech by a foreign official in Congress.

The channel reported a tweet made by Democrat Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, who wrote, “Benjamin Netanyahu’s presentation in the House Chamber today was by far the worst presentation of any foreign dignitary invited and honored with the privilege of addressing the Congress of the United States.

“Many of us who love Israel spent time today listening to Israeli citizens whose families have suffered in the wake of the October 7th Hamas terror attack and kidnappings.”

Meanwhile, reports in Iran’s anti-regime diaspora media were more sympathetic of the Israeli PM. Iran International reported on Netanyahu’s call for an alliance against the Islamic Republic in the Middle East. The site said the Israeli PM “promised to bring home the hostages held in Gaza, thanked Democrats and Republicans for their support of Israel, sharply criticized Iran (Islamic Republic) and promised to destroy Hamas.”