Report: Hungary supplied Iran intel on Hezbollah pager assault by Israel

[ad_1] Hungary reportedly supplied to share intelligence with Iran about Israel’s lethal 2024 pager assault concentrating on Hezbollah operatives, elevating questions relating to Budapest’s geopolitical standing.

The Washington Publish said Wednesday that it obtained a Hungarian authorities transcript of a September 30, 2024, name between Hungarian International Minister Peter Szijjarto and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi throughout which Szijjarto advised Araghchi that Budapest’s intelligence providers had already reached out and would share all info gathered of their investigation into the incident. The Publish mentioned the transcript was additionally verified by a Western intelligence company.

The outreach from Szijjarto to Araghchi got here shortly after hundreds of pagers utilized by Hezbollah members exploded in Lebanon, killing a minimum of 12 individuals and wounding almost 3,000 on September 17.

On the time, Hungary was drawn into the highlight after a Taiwanese firm whose branding appeared on the gadgets mentioned they'd been manufactured by a Hungarian agency beneath license.

Szijjarto sought to distance Hungary from the assault, with the transcript quoting him as having advised Araghchi through the name that the pagers “will not be produced in Hungary, they've by no means been to Hungary and no Hungarian firm has by no means been associated with these pagers bodily. So we don’t have something to do with it!”

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By signing up, you comply with the terms Araghchi, in flip, expressed gratitude for Hungary’s efforts, telling Szijjarto that he was “very grateful for you doing all of this.”

International Minister Gideon Sa’ar, left, meets along with his Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjarto, proper, on the International Workplace in Budapest, Hungary, on September 8, 2025. (Attila KISBENEDEK / AFP) Hungary’s willingness to cooperate with Iran — Hezbollah’s primary backer — seems to take a seat uneasily with Hungary’s official stance as certainly one of Israel’s most dependable supporters inside Europe. Budapest has continuously backed Israel in worldwide boards and maintains shut ties with each Israeli and American management.

Simply final month, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu successfully endorsed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán within the nation’s elections subsequent week, saying the strongman chief “has been like a rock.”

Throughout a go to to Hungary, US Vice President JD Vance equally confirmed assist for Orbán’s election marketing campaign on Tuesday, saying at a pro-Orbán rally that he was in Budapest “to assist him on this marketing campaign cycle.”

Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, left, and US Vice President JD Vance gesture on the finish of a pre-election rally in Budapest, Hungary, April 7, 2026. (AP Picture/Denes Erdos) A former White Home official advised the Publish that whereas Hungary might have been trying to ease tensions with Tehran following the assault, the transfer runs counter to its publicly said pro-Israel coverage.

“Hungary is likely one of the most supportive of Israel in its official coverage. They're one of many solely international locations that persistently vote with the US when the remainder of Europe abstains,” the official mentioned.

The report famous that the communication has prompted concern amongst Western officers, significantly given Hungary’s broader positioning, which has included sustaining ties with Russia, a key Iranian ally.

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