Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu framed the conflict in starkly strategic terms on Friday, declaring that Iran had bet its survival on its nuclear program and that it had lost that bet through twenty days of Israeli military operations that destroyed its uranium enrichment and ballistic missile production capabilities. He rejected claims about Israeli manipulation of US foreign policy. Netanyahu was analytical and confident throughout the press conference, projecting certainty about the war’s approaching end.
The prime minister addressed his relationship with Trump in terms of shared strategic understanding. He called their coordination historically unprecedented and framed Trump as the alliance’s dominant force. Netanyahu revealed that Trump had contributed his own independently formed and analytically deep understanding of Iran’s nuclear threat to their discussions, reflecting a genuine partnership of strategic equals.
Netanyahu confirmed Israel struck the South Pars gas compound alone and disclosed Trump’s personal request to hold off on further attacks on Iranian gas facilities. He presented both facts transparently, framing them as natural elements of a close and functioning alliance. Netanyahu maintained throughout that Israel’s military autonomy remained fully intact.
On the Hormuz question, Netanyahu called Iran’s closure threats hollow blackmail. He proposed pipeline routes from the Arabian Peninsula to Israeli and Mediterranean ports as a permanent structural solution. Netanyahu argued this would create lasting energy security and permanently neutralize the Hormuz chokepoint.
Netanyahu concluded with analysis of Iran’s internal breakdown. He noted Mojtaba had not appeared publicly and admitted genuine uncertainty about who was governing the country. Netanyahu pointed to fierce competition for power in Tehran and concluded that this political instability, combined with military losses, was driving the war toward a sooner-than-expected end.