Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a Channel 14 interview Thursday evening that Israel has eliminated Iran's nuclear program and must ensure it does not return. He added that the U.S. has no other ally in the Middle East besides Israel, and that Israel has its own interests. Katz also noted Israel coordinated with Washington and received praise from the U.S.
Defense Minister Israel Katz made the remarks during a rare live sit-down interview on Channel 14's 'Weekend with Yaakov Bardugo' program Thursday evening. His statement that Iran's nuclear program has been eliminated aligns with a recent assertion by U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who said Thursday that Iran's nuclear infrastructure had been destroyed and it retains no enrichment capability, as The Zioneer reported at 18:31 Jerusalem. Katz emphasized that cooperation with the United States was a shared effort, and that Washington praised Israel's role. He also stressed that Israel has its own strategic interests, hinting at potential differences in priorities even as the two allies coordinate closely. The interview is Katz's first extended live media appearance outside official briefings in some time. The remarks come amid a series of statements by Israeli and U.S. officials declaring the Iranian nuclear threat neutralized following the recent U.S.-Iran agreement.
- DevelopingKatz: US has no other ally in the Middle East like Israel
- StrongNetanyahu: Israel eliminated nuclear threat, will respond forcefully if Iran attacks
- DevelopingMerz (CDU): Iran must fully, verifiably end nuclear program; Israel's security must be assured
- DevelopingVance: Iran's nuclear program destroyed, no enrichment capability left
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