Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday at a press conference that Iran will not obtain nuclear weapons — with or without a diplomatic deal. Responding to i24NEWS, he compared Israel's Gaza operations to planned action in the north, and denied that regime change in Iran was among the operation's objectives.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a press conference Monday evening, reiterating his long-standing commitment to preventing a nuclear-armed Iran. "With a deal or without one — Iran will not have nuclear weapons," he said. Asked by i24NEWS whether the military operation against Iran was aimed at toppling the regime, he distanced himself from that interpretation, saying he never stated regime change as a goal. He also asserted that without Israeli action in Iran, Israeli civilians would have faced mass death. In response to a question about the northern front, Netanyahu said: "What we did in Gaza — we are going to do also in the north."
The press conference, which began at 21:00 Jerusalem, was the culmination of a day of statements by the prime minister. At 17:46, The Zioneer reported Netanyahu saying he is not limiting himself in any way regarding Iran. In that same window, he called preventing Iran's nuclear program his life's mission and vowed Iran will not obtain nuclear weapons with or without a deal. By 20:21, The Zioneer reported he warned ministers there is no immunity for targets in Beirut or Tehran, and had spoken with President Trump about the nuclear deal framework.
As The Zioneer reported earlier Monday, Netanyahu told ministers that Israel's goal is to preserve freedom of action under the heaviest pressures. IDF representatives clarified troops will not withdraw to the border and will not risk soldiers, according to ministers. Trump said Friday the war with Iran is over and that Tehran agreed never to hold nuclear weapons. The Zioneer also reported on Sunday that Trump laid out a two-track ultimatum: diplomatic removal of enriched uranium or military destruction of Iran's capabilities.
What remains open is the precise military objective of the operation, beyond preventing a nuclear breakout. Netanyahu denied regime change is the aim, but did not detail what limits he would impose on the scope of action, particularly regarding the northern front where he signaled operations would mirror those in Gaza.
17 developments
- DevelopingNetanyahu: As long as I'm PM, Iran will not get nuclear weapons
- StrongTrump says war with Iran over, Iran agreed to never hold nuclear weapons
- DevelopingTrump: Netanyahu will have no choice but to accept any Iran agreement
- StrongNetanyahu warned ministers: No immunity, not in Beirut nor Tehran
Source and signal
- Internal intake