Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken about his long campaign to convince the United States to take stronger action against Iran. In remarks reported on Monday, Netanyahu said that he had been dealing with the Iran issue for almost 40 years. He said it took a long time to convince Israel's own security establishment that Iran needed to be treated as a major threat. Netanyahu also said that bringing the United States to the same understanding took many years. According to his remarks, one important part of his strategy was his extensive presence on American television. He claimed that he had spent nearly 1,000 hours appearing on U.S. television networks. Netanyahu suggested that these appearances gave him an opportunity to repeatedly explain Israel's concerns about Iran to American audiences. His comments have drawn a strong reaction from Iran. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Netanyahu of using his media presence to influence American public opinion and U.S. policy. Araghchi said Netanyahu was effectively boasting that he had influenced America through his television appearances. Araghchi described Netanyahu as someone who had managed to persuade the United States to enter the conflict on Israel's side. He also criticized Netanyahu for praising U.S. President Donald Trump in English while, according to Araghchi, making different comments in Hebrew. The comments come as tensions between the United States, Israel and Iran remain high. The conflict began with major U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran in February, followed by Iranian attacks against Israeli and U.S.-linked targets across the region. A ceasefire later reduced the intensity of the fighting, but tensions have continued, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz. The latest dispute over Netanyahu's comments highlights the political battle surrounding the war. Netanyahu presents his long campaign against Iran as an effort to convince the United States of what he sees as a serious threat. Iran, however, argues that his influence helped draw Washington deeper into the conflict.