Israel is ready to resume hostilities against Iran “at any time” to achieve its full set of objectives, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the public on Wednesday.
In the past six weeks of military operations, Israel has “achieved immense accomplishments – achievements that until recently seemed completely imaginary,” Netanyahu said in a video address released after Tuesday’s announcement of talks between the US and Iran.
“Iran is weaker than ever and Israel is stronger than ever.”
At the same time, he said that Israel “still has goals to complete” – either through an agreement or a resumption of fighting.
Israel’s finger “is on the trigger,” Netanyahu stressed.
The ceasefire between the US and Iran had been achieved in consultation with Israel, according to the prime minister.
“No, they did not surprise us at the last minute,” said Netanyahu, apparently in response to rebukes in Israel over his conduct during the war.
Critics have accused him of failing to achieve any of Israel’s goals since the joint attacks with the US on Iran began on February 28.
Iran ‘set back by years’
However, Netanyahu insisted that Iran’s ability to produce new missiles had been destroyed.
Its remaining stockpiles are also running out, while Tehran’s nuclear programme has been severely damaged, he added. His claims about Iran’s military capabilities could not be independently verified.
The Iranian regime had been set “back many years,” while Israel continues to forge alliances with new countries in the region, according to Netanyahu.
Furthermore, the enriched uranium allegedly still in Iran would be completely removed from the country, he said, either as part of an agreement or a resumption of the war. “We see eye-to-eye on this matter” with the US, Netanyahu said.
Without the wars against Iran this year and last, “Iran would have long ago had nuclear weapons, and Iran would have had many thousands of missiles to destroy Israel and threaten the existence of us all.”
Of the US ceasefire with Iran, Netanyahu said he had ensured that it did not include the Tehran-allied Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.
Israel on Wednesday launched a surprise large-scale air strikes throughout Lebanon, including Beirut, purportedly targeting Hezbollah positions. Lebanese authorities reported hundreds of killed and injured among the population.
Today, Netanyahu said in his speech, Israel dealt Hezbollah its heaviest blow since the explosive pager blasts in 2024 that eliminated many of its senior members.