Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that his nation will maintain its military objectives even during a temporary ceasefire with Iran, characterizing the current pause in hostilities as preparation rather than the end of military operations.
“Now I would like to emphasize that this is not the end of the campaign. This is a preparation for the achievement of all of our goals,” Netanyahu stated, emphasizing Israel’s readiness to resume combat operations. “Either by agreeing or by restarting the war, because we are ready to return to war at any time that is needed. The finger on the trigger.”
According to Netanyahu, the two-week halt in fighting was arranged in coordination with Israel and follows a period during which Iran was weakened and compelled to reopen the Strait of Hormuz while dropping previous demands.
Netanyahu highlighted close collaboration with President Donald Trump, describing recent military actions as historically significant. “Six weeks ago, for the first time in history, we went to war shoulder to shoulder with my friend, President Trump, and our great ally, the United States,” he explained. “We went to a historic operation, the greatest operation the Middle East has ever known.”
According to Netanyahu, Israeli operations have focused on Iran’s missile and nuclear capabilities, striking production plants, centrifuges, scientific personnel, along with military targets including missile installations, command facilities, naval assets, and transportation systems.
“We destroyed Iran’s missile production plant,” Netanyahu said. “Not only did we destroy existing missiles, we destroyed the factories that produce the missiles.”
Regarding nuclear materials, Netanyahu indicated that Israel and the United States share the objective of removing Iran’s enriched uranium. “As Prime Minister Trump said on election day, the enriched material will all leave Iran. Either it will leave in agreement, or it will leave in a war renewal.”
Netanyahu emphasized that the temporary ceasefire excludes Hezbollah, stating that Israeli military actions in Lebanon will persist. “Now, I stood up for this, that the temporary ceasefire with Iran will not include Hezbollah,” he said.
Israeli military forces attacked approximately 100 Hezbollah positions within a 10-minute timeframe on Wednesday, which Netanyahu characterized as the organization’s most devastating blow during the ongoing conflict.
“We still have goals to accomplish, and we will achieve them,” he concluded.
