Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday night that Israel inflicted massive economic damage on Iran, estimated by some as high as a trillion dollars. Speaking at a press conference, he framed the struggle against Iran's nuclear program as a lifelong mission and warned that Israel will remain in security zones as long as necessary to defend itself. Netanyahu also addressed tensions with President Trump, quipping that such disagreements 'happen in the best of families.'
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered an extended statement Monday evening, weaving together economic and security assessments of Israel's campaign against Iran. Citing anonymous estimates, he claimed Israel had inflicted up to a trillion dollars in damage to the Iranian economy. Netanyahu reiterated his core commitment — that Iran will not obtain nuclear weapons 'with or without a deal' — and described the fight as a lifelong mission that removed an 'immediate threat of annihilation.'
Acknowledging public friction with the Trump administration over the contours of a final nuclear agreement, Netanyahu said that he and Trump each answer to their respective national interests and compared the dispute to disagreements 'in the best of families.' He stressed that Israel would maintain its presence in the security zones in Lebanon, Syria, Gaza, and northern Samaria for as long as needed, and noted that new regional alliances and independent arms-production capacity are being built.
As The Zioneer reported earlier this evening, Netanyahu had already stated that Israel 'removed the immediate nuclear threat' and credited joint efforts with Washington. The current statement adds a specific economic-damage figure and a direct response to the Trump administration's reported pressure over the deal's terms. 'We still don't know what the agreement will look like,' Netanyahu said, leaving the diplomatic endgame open.
2 developments
- DevelopingNetanyahu: We face a real military threat from Iran
- StrongNetanyahu: Israel eliminated nuclear threat, will respond forcefully if Iran attacks
- DevelopingNetanyahu: Fight against Iran and its proxies not over, demands continued resolve
- StrongTrump to NYT: Netanyahu should be grateful — strikes nearly scuttled Iran deal
Source and signal
- Internal intake