Marking what he called a transformative twenty days of conflict, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Friday that Iran had been robbed of its ability to enrich uranium and manufacture ballistic missiles, and expressed optimism that the war was heading toward a rapid conclusion. He denied Israeli responsibility for bringing the United States into the conflict, insisting that reports to the contrary were false. Netanyahu’s press conference struck a tone of achievement and forward momentum.
The prime minister spoke about his relationship with Donald Trump in glowing terms, calling it the most coordinated bilateral leadership relationship he was aware of in modern times. He made the point that Trump was never led anywhere by Israel, being instead a self-directed leader with his own deep understanding of the Iranian nuclear threat. Netanyahu noted that Trump had contributed insight to their discussions on Iran rather than simply receiving briefings from Israeli officials.
Netanyahu confirmed Israel’s unilateral strike on the South Pars gas complex and noted Trump’s request to pause further attacks on Iranian gas infrastructure. He treated both facts as natural elements of a close and functioning alliance. Israel’s military autonomy, he said, had not been compromised by diplomatic exchanges, however close the partnership.
On Iran’s Hormuz threats, Netanyahu was dismissive and strategic in equal measure. He rejected the blackmail framing behind the closure threats and proposed alternative pipeline corridors from the Gulf through the Arabian Peninsula to Israeli and Mediterranean ports. Netanyahu saw this infrastructure as a long-term investment in regional energy security.
Netanyahu wrapped up his remarks by describing what he saw as a deteriorating leadership situation inside Iran. Mojtaba, widely expected to take over as supreme leader, had not been seen publicly, and Netanyahu said the competition for power within Tehran was intense and visible. He believed this internal chaos, layered over Iran’s military losses, was driving the conflict toward a faster-than-expected conclusion.