Netanyahu claims Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities crushed, says war could end sooner than expected

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that Iran’s ability to enrich uranium and manufacture ballistic missiles has been effectively neutralized, following nearly three weeks of coordinated air strikes with the United States.

“Iran can no longer enrich uranium or make ballistic missiles. We are winning, and Iran is being decimated,” Netanyahu said, addressing foreign media, projecting the campaign as a decisive military success.

He said the ongoing strikes have focused on dismantling Iran’s military-industrial backbone. “What we’re destroying now are the factories that produce the components to make these missiles and nuclear weapons,” he said, adding that Tehran’s missile and drone arsenal is being “massively degraded” and on course for complete destruction. However, Netanyahu did not present evidence to substantiate the claim that Iran has lost its uranium enrichment capability.

Pushback on US role, stresses strategic alignment

Rejecting criticism that Israel had drawn Washington into the conflict, Netanyahu dismissed suggestions of external influence over US decision-making. Referring to Donald Trump, he said, “Does anyone really think someone can tell President Trump what to do? He makes decisions based on what is good for America.”

He described the US-Israel coordination as swift and effective, claiming that joint military and intelligence efforts are achieving objectives “at lightning speed.”

‘I’m alive’: Netanyahu dismisses rumors, lauds alliance

Opening his remarks with a pointed response to speculation about his health, Netanyahu said, “First of all, I just want to say, I’m alive.”

He went on to underscore the importance of the US-Israel partnership, calling it central to regional security. “We are protecting the entire Middle East — and I venture to say, the entire world,” he said, adding that global security efforts owe a “debt of deep indebtedness” to Trump.

Israel pauses gas field strikes, signals independent action

Netanyahu said Israel had agreed to pause further attacks on Iran’s key gas infrastructure following a request from Trump, even as he maintained that previous strikes were carried out independently.

“Israel acted alone against the South Pars gas compound,” he said, referring to the South Pars gas field. “President Trump asked us to hold off on future attacks, and we’re holding off.”

He added that Iran’s broader military infrastructure has suffered severe damage, pointing to growing pressure on the regime.

War may widen as leadership uncertainty deepens

Suggesting that the conflict could expand beyond aerial warfare, Netanyahu hinted at the possibility of ground operations. “There are many possibilities for this ground component,” he said, without offering specifics.

He also pointed to signs of internal instability within Iran’s leadership. “I’m not sure who is running Iran right now,” he said, citing “a lot of tension” among top officials.

While indicating that Israel is working to create conditions that could destabilize the regime, Netanyahu stopped short of predicting its collapse. “It may survive, it may not,” he said.

On the prospect of an internal uprising, he added, “It’s up to the Iranian people to choose the moment and rise to the moment,” underscoring the uncertainty surrounding the conflict’s political outcome.