Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday evening that Israel has removed from itself an immediate existential danger, and vowed that Iran will not obtain nuclear weapons — with or without an agreement — as long as he leads the country. Netanyahu spoke at a press conference, his latest public statement on the nuclear standoff with Tehran.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a press conference Monday evening in which he addressed the nuclear threat from Iran. 'What have we achieved?' he asked, answering: 'We have removed from ourselves an immediate existential danger.' He then issued a definitive pledge: 'With or without an agreement — Iran will not have nuclear weapons, not today and not tomorrow — as long as I am Prime Minister of Israel.'
The statement comes amid a period of intense diplomatic and security activity around a U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding. President Donald Trump has claimed the deal is fully signed and that Iran has agreed never to acquire nuclear weapons, while Netanyahu's remarks reaffirm Israel's red line regardless of the diplomatic track. The Zioneer reported earlier this week that Trump committed to Netanyahu that the final deal would include removal of enriched material and limits on missile production.
This is the third consecutive evening Netanyahu has addressed the Iran issue publicly. He made similar declarations on Sunday and in a televised statement last week, framing the prevention of a nuclear-armed Iran as a 30-year personal mission. Monday's press conference did not disclose new operational or diplomatic details beyond the prime minister's personal vow.
3 developments
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- StrongNetanyahu: If we hadn't struck Iran, it would have nuclear weapons; vows to stay in Lebanon buffer zone
- StrongNetanyahu at JNS Summit: Iran will not get nuclear weapons as long as I'm PM
- DevelopingNetanyahu: Israel establishing buffer zone in southern Lebanon, will prevent Iran nuclear arms
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