Ali Akbar Velayati, Senior Advisor on International Affairs to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, has warned that Washington is “walking into a strategic trap” allegedly set by Israel, cautioning that another war on Iran would further erode US credibility in West Asia.
In a post on X, Velayati—also a member of Iran’s Expediency Council—said US President Donald Trump’s recent diplomacy in Beijing reflected a “crisis of calculation” in Washington, citing his meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and discussions on regional tensions, including Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.
Velayati also pointed to Abu Dhabi’s anger over reports of a secret visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the UAE, along with “distorted data fabrication” by the Pentagon as other examples of the calculation crisis in the United States.
“In such circumstances, Trump’s threats, inflamed by Tel Aviv’s incitement, amount to ‘entering a strategic trap,’” he wrote.
“Falling into this pit with Israel’s rope carries a heavy price,” Velayati stated. “Soon, Washington will have to search with a lantern for the remnants of its credibility in West Asia.”
1) دیپلماسی عقیمِ #ترامپ در پکن و بازگشت با دست خالی از #چین ، استیصال و عصبانیت #ابوظبی از برملا شدن خبر سفر پنهانی #نتانیاهو به این کشور و دادهسازیهای مخدوش پنتاگون، نمایانگر #بحران محاسباتی در #واشنگتن است.
— Aliakbar Velayati (@Drvelayati_ir) May 17, 2026
The warning comes amid Trump’s escalating war rhetoric against Iran. On Saturday, Trump carried an implicit threat of a possible renewed aggression on the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump shared late on Saturday an AI-generated graphic of him and a US Navy admiral in front of stormy waters with several ships, including one flying the flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in what was considered a threat of possible renewed aggression in the Strait of Hormuz.
Above the graphic was text reading: “It was calm before the storm.”
Source: Iranian media (edited by Al-Manar)