Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu painted a picture of systematic dismantlement on Friday, declaring that Iran was being taken apart piece by piece — its uranium enrichment eliminated, its ballistic missile production destroyed, and its leadership structure fractured — all within twenty days of conflict. He denied Israeli responsibility for US involvement in the war and predicted the conflict would conclude with a speed that would surprise the world. Netanyahu’s press conference was one of his most sweeping assessments since hostilities began.
The prime minister addressed the Trump-Israel alliance with characteristic detail and warmth. He described their coordination as historically unprecedented and framed Trump as the partnership’s leading force. Netanyahu disclosed that Trump had brought an independently formed and deeply analytical understanding of Iran’s nuclear threat to their conversations, reflecting the genuine depth of their strategic alignment.
Netanyahu confirmed Israel’s unilateral strike on the South Pars gas compound and disclosed Trump’s request to pause further attacks on Iranian gas infrastructure. He handled both disclosures with transparency, framing them as natural and healthy elements of a close alliance. Netanyahu was firm that Israel’s military autonomy remained fully intact.
On the Hormuz question, Netanyahu called Iran’s closure threats blackmail and dismissed them. He proposed overland pipeline corridors from the Arabian Peninsula to Israeli and Mediterranean ports as a lasting structural solution. Netanyahu argued this infrastructure would permanently reduce global vulnerability to Iranian maritime pressure.
Netanyahu concluded by noting the signs of internal collapse within Iran’s leadership. He said Mojtaba had not been seen publicly and admitted genuine uncertainty about who was governing the country. Netanyahu pointed to the fierce competition for power in Tehran and concluded that this chaos, combined with military losses, was driving the war toward a conclusion sooner than the outside world had anticipated.
