Netanyahu: Joint Campaign Damaged Iran's Nuclear Program, Military, And Economy Severely
Netanyahu defends military campaign results, asserts Israeli interests independent from US-Iran diplomatic accord.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has defended the outcome of the recent military campaign against Iran while seeking to downplay speculation of tensions between Israel and the United States over a newly announced U.S.-Iran agreement. Speaking at a press conference, Netanyahu said the accord was a decision made by U.S. President Donald Trump and stressed that the long-standing alliance between the two countries remains intact despite differing views on the diplomatic initiative.
Addressing concerns raised by some Israeli political figures and commentators, Netanyahu said Israel and the United States had worked closely together during the conflict to counter what they viewed as threats posed by Iran. He avoided directly criticizing the pending agreement, which is expected to be formally signed in Switzerland, but emphasized that Israel would continue to safeguard its own national security interests regardless of diplomatic developments involving other nations.
The Israeli leader argued that the joint military operation achieved its primary objectives by significantly weakening Iran's military capabilities and damaging elements of its nuclear programme. Rejecting suggestions that the campaign had failed because Iran's government remains in power, Netanyahu stated that regime change was never an official goal. Instead, he said the operation was designed to address immediate security threats facing Israel.
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According to Netanyahu, Israeli and American forces targeted key components of Iran's nuclear infrastructure, including facilities, missile production capabilities and individuals involved in the programme. He claimed that military actions also resulted in substantial damage to Iran's broader defence infrastructure. Netanyahu further asserted that the operation inflicted severe economic losses on Iran, although independent verification of the scale of the damage was not immediately available.
While acknowledging uncertainty about the future of Iran's leadership, Netanyahu maintained that the conflict had left the country facing serious economic and strategic challenges. He said Iran's infrastructure had suffered extensive damage and argued that signs of internal pressure within the regime were becoming increasingly visible. However, he conceded that predicting any potential political changes in the country would be difficult.
Netanyahu also sought to clarify Israel's position regarding the U.S.-Iran agreement, noting that Israel is not a party to the proposed accord. He said he had communicated his views to President Trump during private discussions but reiterated that Israel would continue to focus on its own security priorities, particularly preventing any future nuclear threat. His remarks appeared aimed at reassuring domestic audiences that Israel's strategic interests would remain central to its policy decisions despite ongoing diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran.
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