A leaked call shows Hungary offered aid to Iran after a deadly Israeli attack in 2024, spotlighting Budapest’s ties with Tehran even as its allies, the US and Israel, remain locked in conflict with the Middle Eastern nation.
The leaked call from September 30, 2024, obtained by a Western intelligence service and reviewed by The Washington Post, is said to have taken place soon after an Israeli operation that caused thousands of pagers used by Hezbollah members to explode, killing 12 people and injuring around 2,800.
“Our secret service has already contacted your services and we will share all the information we have gathered during the investigation,” Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó told his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, by phone.
“Every possible document will be shared with your services,” Szijjártó added.
The Hungarian diplomat was keen to stress to Araghchi that his country had not been involved in the attack, after the Taiwanese company whose brand was on the devices said they were manufactured by a Hungarian firm.
What about the US and Israel?
But Szijjártó’s readiness to help Iran, which backs Hezbollah, designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, has raised eyebrows at a time when the Trump administration is in open confrontation with Tehran while also providing political support to Viktor Orbán’s re-election campaign.
The Hungarian diplomat was keen to stress to Araghchi that his country had not been involved in the attack, after the Taiwanese company whose brand was on the devices said they were manufactured by a Hungarian firm.
What about the US and Israel?
But Szijjártó’s readiness to help Iran, which backs Hezbollah, designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, has raised eyebrows at a time when the Trump administration is in open confrontation with Tehran while also providing political support to Viktor Orbán’s re-election campaign.
US Vice President JD Vance visited Budapest this week in a show of support for the MAGA-allied premier ahead of Hungary’s April 12 election, with polls indicating that the vote poses the biggest threat to Orbán’s rule since he came to power in 2010.
A former White House official told The Washington Post the leaked call was also highly unusual given Hungary is one of Israel’s “most supportive” backers.
“They are one of the only countries who consistently vote with the US when the rest of Europe abstains,” the former official said, adding: “At a minimum this goes very strongly against their policy. I couldn’t imagine a British foreign secretary doing this.”
Leaked calls with Russia and Iran
Recent investigative reports have laid bare the extent of Russia’s influence in Hungarian politics, including leaked calls between Szijjártó and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, that show the two governments coordinating efforts on sanctions and discussing getting Russian billionaires off European blacklists.
Yet the Trump administration has continued to support MAGA-allied Orbán despite his friendly ties with Russia, which has a long-standing partnership with Iran and has backed Tehran in its confrontation with the US.
Now, Szijjártó’s leaked call with Araghchi has revealed direct engagement with Tehran. When his Iranian counterpart responded that he was “very grateful for you doing all this,” Szijjártó said: “Absolutely, absolutely.
“If you need any further information or you wish to contact me, then I am always at your service.”
During his visit to Budapest, Vance did not publicly raise concerns about Russian influence. Instead, he echoed Orbán’s claims that he faced interference in the election from Ukraine and Brussels, while himself advocating for an Orbán victory.