Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asserted that Iran is currently weaker than ever and stated that all enriched uranium must be removed from the country, either through negotiations or military action. In a televised address, he emphasized that a temporary ceasefire between the United States and Iran has been coordinated with Israel but does not signify the end of military operations.
Netanyahu’s remarks were made public in a transcript released by The Times of Israel. He stated, “We still have objectives to achieve, and we will reach them either by agreement or by resuming hostilities. We are prepared to return to combat at any moment.” The ceasefire, which he noted took effect overnight, has been fully agreed upon with Israeli officials.
The Prime Minister characterized Iran’s position in negotiations as being “beaten and weaker than ever.” He claimed that Tehran has committed to opening the Strait of Hormuz and has abandoned previous demands, including the lifting of sanctions and compensation.
Regarding the enriched uranium that remains in Iran, Netanyahu referenced statements from senior officials in the Trump administration, asserting that all enriched uranium would be extracted from Iran—either through an agreement or by military means.
He argued that without military operations named “Rising Lion” and “Lion’s Roar,” Iran would have already acquired nuclear weapons and thousands of missiles aimed at Israel. Netanyahu detailed what he considers the achievements of these operations, including the destruction of Iran’s missile production capabilities, strikes on nuclear infrastructure and centrifuge manufacturing plants, and the elimination of key nuclear scientists.
Additionally, he claimed that Israeli forces have targeted high-ranking officials within the Iranian regime, including the leadership of Ayatollah Khamenei and the command of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Netanyahu also insisted that the temporary ceasefire with Iran should not extend to Hezbollah. He noted that on April 8, Israel conducted its most powerful strike against the group since the Pager Operation, targeting 100 sites in just ten minutes.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister stated that Israel has established “deep security zones” beyond its borders in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza, where he claims Israel controls more than half of the Gaza Strip and is “squeezing Hamas from all sides.”
Netanyahu expressed gratitude to U.S. President Donald Trump for his “leadership and friendship,” describing their joint military operation as the “largest military operation the Middle East has ever known.”
On February 28, Israel launched an attack on Tehran, with President Trump later declaring that U.S. forces had initiated a “major combat operation” against Iran to eliminate perceived threats from the Iranian regime. He accused Iran of financing and training militants in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Hamas in Palestine, stating that the operation aims to dismantle Iran’s missile industry and navy.
The IRGC has since claimed to have launched missiles and drones towards Israel, as well as attacked U.S. military bases in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
In response to the escalating military actions, French President Emmanuel Macron called for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council. The European Union reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring regional security and stability in the Middle East.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that it is fair to give Iranians a chance to rid themselves of a “terrorist regime” and ensure safety for all nations affected by attacks from Iran.
On February 28, Trump announced that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was dead, a claim later confirmed by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA). The IRGC subsequently declared the commencement of “the most destructive offensive operation in the history of the Islamic Republic” against Israel and U.S. military bases.
On March 1, Trump urged the Iranian regime to abandon its plans, threatening a “very strong response.” By March 2, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that the next phase of military operations would be even more devastating.
On March 6, Trump called for a complete change in Iran’s leadership, suggesting he had several candidates in mind for a “good leader.” On March 8, Iran’s Assembly of Experts elected Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the deceased Ayatollah, as the third Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic.
Trump declined to comment on Mojtaba Khamenei’s election, stating only, “We’ll see what happens.” He had previously suggested that the new Iranian leader would not last long without approval from the White House.
On March 26, Trump announced a pause in the destruction of Iranian energy facilities until April 6. However, due to a lack of progress in negotiations, he extended the deadline by 20 hours to the evening of April 7.
Trump has threatened to destroy all bridges and power plants in Iran and take other actions that could have devastating consequences for the Iranian people and provoke dangerous responses throughout the region.
On April 6, Iran presented a separate ten-point plan to the U.S. and Israel for ending the conflict through Pakistan. The following day, Trump stated that he had agreed to suspend bombing Iran and delay a “devastating attack” for two weeks, contingent on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. He described the ceasefire as mutual and deemed Iran’s ten-point proposal an acceptable basis for negotiations.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz within two weeks is possible “with coordination with Iran’s armed forces and considering technical limitations.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu has declared Iran to be in a weakened position as negotiations continue regarding its nuclear program. He emphasized that Israel remains prepared for military action if necessary, while also detailing recent military successes against Iranian capabilities.
Source: The Times of Israel