Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Monday that while negotiations over a potential deal with Iran are ongoing, the final terms of any agreement remain unknown — but he made one thing clear: Iran will not be permitted to acquire nuclear weapons.
At a press conference, Netanyahu declined to draw comparisons between the current diplomatic effort and past negotiations, saying it was too early to do so.
“I would not make that comparison yet,” Netanyahu said. “We do not know what the agreement will be.”
Netanyahu argued that the key distinction between now and previous rounds of diplomacy is the presence of a credible military threat against Iran. He pointed to a large-scale air campaign as evidence of that pressure.
“I can say that the fundamental difference between the situation then and the situation today is that every agreement must be accompanied by a credible military threat,” he said. “Back then there was no credible military threat. There was no military threat. Today, because of what we did — not only the United States, because of us, because we went in there with 14,000 sorties — that is the biggest difference.”
He later clarified the figure, saying the total number of sorties was approximately 140,000, split roughly evenly between Israel and the United States.
“About 140,000 sorties, roughly half and half,” Netanyahu said. “For us, a little, roughly half and half between the United States and us. There is a credible military threat.”
The prime minister framed his stance as the product of a lifelong commitment to keeping nuclear weapons out of Iranian hands.
“I can speak about my commitment as prime minister of Israel, who has devoted most of his adult life to only one thing: preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons,” he said.
Netanyahu contended that without the steps he has taken over the years, Iran would already be a nuclear-armed state.
“If I had not done the things I did over the years, Iran would long ago have had atomic bombs,” Netanyahu said. “So they do not have them, and I do not intend for them to have them.”
He left no doubt that Israel would take whatever action is needed to ensure that outcome.
“We will do what is necessary,” he said. “Again, I am not limiting myself in any way regarding that objective, and that objective is simple: Iran will not have nuclear weapons.”
When asked whether Israel was bound by any provisions in the US-Iran agreement relating to Lebanon or Iran, Netanyahu made clear that the deal is being driven by Washington.
“This agreement is being made by the United States, by the president of the United States,” he said. “He thinks he can truly combine both the opening of the straits and the elimination of the nuclear program.”
Netanyahu said he has communicated his views directly to President Trump, while acknowledging that the United States is leading the diplomatic effort.
“I said this is his decision,” Netanyahu said. “I repeat and say: This is his decision. He is leading this, and of course I expressed my opinion in various conversations.”
On the question of his relationship with President Trump, Netanyahu acknowledged that disagreements do occur between the two leaders, but said their longstanding ties remain intact. He noted that while they frequently see eye to eye, there are moments when their positions differ, and that his decisions are driven by Israel’s security needs rather than public appearances.
“We have known each other for a long time,” Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu also pushed back against suggestions that Operation Rising Lion had failed to achieve its goals. He argued that the campaign had neutralized what he described as an existential threat, severely damaged Iran’s economy and infrastructure, and helped set conditions under which the Iranian people might challenge their own government.
He also reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to maintaining a security buffer zone in Lebanon, dismissing Iranian demands that Israel withdraw.
“Second, regarding Lebanon, we created a buffer zone there, a security zone,” Netanyahu said. “We will remain in it as long as required. Iran wanted us to withdraw from there. That did not happen.”
He attributed Israel’s refusal to withdraw, in part, to his own firm resolve.
“Do you know why that did not happen?” Netanyahu said. “Among other things, because I stood very, very firm. I was very, very decisive on this matter, and I think our American friends respect that determination and that firm stand.”
Netanyahu said the security zone is essential for protecting communities in northern Israel.
“We are staying there because we need to protect the residents of the north, and there are other things as well,” he said. “In any case, we want to preserve, and are acting to preserve, our freedom of action.”
The prime minister also reported that Israeli forces carried out operations Monday against individuals who threatened or approached Israeli troops in a hostile manner.
“If people come and attack us, attack us or come to attack us, as happened today — then we eliminated four terrorists,” he said. “Two motorcyclists who approached our forces in a threatening manner were eliminated, and afterward two more terrorists.”
Netanyahu closed by reiterating Israel’s dual objectives of maintaining military freedom of action and holding the security zone to shield northern residents.
“We are preserving our freedom of action, and we are preserving the security zone in order to protect the residents of the north,” he said.
