Hungarian Government Offers Assistance to Iran Following Israeli Operation
The government of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has extended an offer of assistance to Iran after an Israeli operation targeting Hezbollah pagers, which are backed by Tehran, in September 2024. This information was revealed by The Washington Post, citing transcripts of phone conversations between Hungarian and Iranian officials.
On September 30, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó engaged in a conversation with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi, during which he expressed Hungary's readiness to share certain documents with Iranian intelligence services. 'Our secret service has already contacted your services, and we will share all the information we have gathered during the investigation. All possible documents will be handed over to your services,' Szijjártó stated during the call.
This incident has gained particular attention following the confirmation from a Taiwanese company that had its brand displayed on the pagers, stating that these devices were manufactured by a Hungarian company under a licensing agreement. Szijjártó attempted to persuade Araqchi that Hungary was in no way involved in the Israeli attack on Hezbollah.
The Iranian Foreign Minister, in turn, expressed gratitude to his Hungarian counterpart for the assistance offered. 'If you need additional information or wish to contact me, I am always at your service,' Szijjártó responded, demonstrating his willingness for further cooperation.
This phone call and the apparent readiness of the Hungarian official to secure support from the Iranian Foreign Minister raise questions about Orbán's government's relationship with Tehran. This is surprising given that the U.S. administration, particularly under President Donald Trump, is in conflict with Iran and has publicly supported the Hungarian Prime Minister in elections.
Furthermore, this outreach contradicts the official policy of Orbán's government, which has traditionally supported Israel. The transcript of the conversation between Szijjártó and Araqchi raises further questions about the political preferences of the Hungarian government, especially considering the long-standing alliance between Moscow and Tehran, which has supported Iran in its conflict with the United States by providing information on American military installations.
It is noteworthy that this week, media outlets also released a transcript of a conversation between Orbán and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, where the Hungarian Prime Minister, using a fable about a mouse and a lion, expressed his willingness to 'become Putin's mouse.' This indicates close ties between Hungary and Russia.
Additionally, the journalistic project Vsquare published new details of the conversation between the Hungarian Foreign Minister and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, confirming their close coordination, including steps that may harm Ukraine. These developments raise concerns regarding Hungary's foreign policy and its relations with key players on the international stage.