After the announcement that the United States and Iran had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to end the war, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel does not know the specific terms of the nuclear agreement between Iran and the US.
Addressing a press conference on Monday evening, Netanyahu maintained that diplomatic developments would not alter Israel’s military stance against Tehran. “With or without an agreement, Iran will never have nuclear weapons,” Netanyahu said. “Not today and not tomorrow”.
He defended Israel’s recent military operations, asserting that pre-emptive actions had neutralized severe existential threats. “We have removed the threat of immediate annihilation,” he said. “You were all in terrible danger of death”.
Detailing the scale of the offensive, Netanyahu disclosed that Israeli forces had executed a coordinated campaign alongside US forces, targeting key pillars of Iran’s strategic infrastructure. “Together with our American friends, we embarked on the largest strike mission in the history of Israel,” Netanyahu stated. “We have thwarted the nuclear scientists, beheaded the leaders of the terrorist regime, crushed the nuclear factories, destroyed missiles and most of the factories that produce missiles, hit countless industries and military infrastructure, destroyed their navy, their air force, and thwarted the Basij commanders”.
“We caused enormous damage,” Netanyahu said, talking about the economic cost of the war. “We estimate it at hundreds of billions of dollars, and some estimate it even close to a trillion dollars – enormous damage to the Iranian economy that took them decades to build”.
Turning to diplomatic relations, Netanyahu acknowledged operational and strategic differences with US President Donald Trump, noting that their administrations do not always “see eye to eye” at times.
He emphasised that “Israel’s security interests need to be defended wisely,” confirming that Israeli troops will remain positioned within the Lebanon security buffer zone for as long as necessary.
Netanyahu warned the public that “the struggle is not over,” adding that the state must “continue to stand guard, continue to be strong and determined to defend ourselves as much as necessary”.
“He will also be eliminated,” Netanyahu said. “Israel will not allow terrorist organizations to camp on our borders”.
To sustain these ongoing operations and reduce reliance on foreign supply chains, Netanyahu announced a massive defense budget expansion of NIS 350 billion aimed at achieving what he termed “weapons independence”.
He stated, “We will develop technologies that break the boundaries of imagination, and we will make Israel an even stronger power. Because our strength is the key to our future, it is the key to our security, it is the key to our economy, it is the key to our alliances”.
He concluded by confirming his intention to run in the upcoming national elections, stating that he is “going to win”.
