Hungary Offers Iran Assistance Following Hezbollah Pager Explosions
In the wake of a deadly attack in Israel in September 2024, where thousands of pagers used by Hezbollah militants exploded, the Hungarian government, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, has extended an offer of assistance to Iran. This development has sparked significant international discussion, particularly given Iran's role as a key sponsor of Hezbollah.
Shortly after the tragic attack that resulted in the deaths of 12 individuals and injuries to approximately 2,800 others, Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto engaged in a conversation with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, on September 30, 2024. During this dialogue, Szijjarto expressed Hungary's readiness to cooperate, stating, 'Our intelligence service has already contacted your services, and we will share all the information we have gathered during the investigation.' This statement is particularly significant as Hungary found itself in the spotlight after a Taiwanese company confirmed that its pagers were manufactured in Hungary under a licensing agreement.
In his conversation with Araghchi, Szijjarto emphasized that Hungary had no connection to the pager explosions. He refuted claims that the pagers were produced in Hungary, asserting, 'I just wanted to personally inform you that our services have already contacted yours.' Araghchi, in response, expressed gratitude for this initiative, to which Szijjarto replied, 'Absolutely, absolutely.'
'If you need any additional information or wish to contact me, I am always at your service,' the Hungarian minister added, highlighting his willingness to collaborate. Szijjarto also stressed that 'these pagers are not manufactured in Hungary, they have never been in Hungary, and no Hungarian company has ever had any physical connection to these pagers.' This phone call and Szijjarto's eagerness to appease the Iranian minister have raised uncomfortable questions regarding the Orbán government's relationship with Iran, especially in the context of the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran, as well as the White House's support for Orbán's electoral campaign.
The report also notes that this call contradicts Budapest's official policy of supporting Israel. Similar to U.S. President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly expressed support for Orbán ahead of the elections. On September 17, 2024, massive explosions occurred in Beirut, Lebanon, involving pagers used by members of the Hezbollah group. Within hours, it was reported that approximately 1,000 individuals had been affected.
On September 18, Reuters, citing a high-ranking Lebanese security official, reported that the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad had planted a small amount of explosives in 5,000 Taiwanese pagers ordered by the Hezbollah group months before the series of explosions. Subsequently, the death toll rose to nine, with around 3,000 injured. The explosives hidden within 3,000 pagers detonated simultaneously after a message with a code was sent, according to sources. Another source added that Hezbollah failed to detect up to three grams of explosives concealed in each device over several months.