Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the conflict involving Iran cannot be considered over until Tehran’s enriched uranium stockpile is removed and its nuclear facilities are dismantled. His remarks come amid ongoing global attention on the Iran-US-Israel tensions and growing debate over how the crisis may eventually end.
Netanyahu made the comments during an interview aired Sunday on CBS News’ “60 Minutes,” where he stressed that Iran’s nuclear capabilities remain a major concern despite recent military developments.
“It’s not over, because there’s still nuclear material enriched uranium that has to be taken out of Iran. There’s still enrichment sites that have to be dismantled,” Netanyahu said.
When asked how the uranium could be removed, the Israeli leader replied, “You go in and you take it out.”
He also claimed that US President Donald Trump shares a similar position on the issue.
“I’m not going to talk about military means, but the president, what President Trump has said to me ‘I want to go in there.’”
Netanyahu’s comments appeared to differ from Trump’s public stance on the ongoing conflict.
The 79-year-old Republican, who is facing mounting domestic pressure to bring the Iran war to an end, has repeatedly maintained that Iran’s nuclear programme has already been contained.
In an interview aired Sunday with independent journalist Sharyl Attkisson, Trump stated that Iran had already suffered military defeat and insisted the uranium could be removed whenever the US decides.
“We’ll get that at some point, whenever we want. We’ll have it surveilled,” Trump said.
“If anybody got near the place we will know about it and we’ll blow them up.”
Netanyahu Prefers Agreement Over Military Action
While discussing possible solutions, Netanyahu said he would rather see the issue resolved through an agreement than through force.
“I think it can be done physically. That’s not the problem. If you have an agreement and you go in and you take it out, why not? That’s the best way.”
However, he avoided directly discussing possible military operations or timelines regarding the removal of Iran’s uranium stockpile.
Israeli PM Wants Gradual End To US Military Aid
Netanyahu also addressed Israel’s long-standing military support from the United States, saying he has already informed Trump that he would like US military aid to Israel to eventually end.
Israel currently receives about $3.8 billion annually in military assistance from the United States.
“I think that it’s time that we wean ourselves from the remaining military support” from the Pentagon, he said. “Let’s start now, and do it over the next decade.”
Netanyahu Raises Concerns Over Iran’s Regional Influence
Beyond the nuclear issue, Netanyahu said Iran still poses wider regional threats through its missile programme and support for armed groups across the Middle East.
“There’s still proxies that Iran supports, their ballistic missiles that they still want to produce. Now, we’ve degraded a lot of it, but all that is still there and there’s work to be done.”
He also alleged that China continues to provide support to Iran, particularly in missile manufacturing.
“China gives a certain amount of support (to Iran), and particular components of missile manufacturing,” Netanyahu stated. “But I can’t say more than that.”
Netanyahu Speaks On Possibility Of Iranian Regime Collapse
The Israeli leader further suggested that the collapse of Iran’s current government could weaken groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis.
He described Iran as the foundation of a broader network of allied groups in the region.
“The whole scaffolding of the terrorist proxy network that Iran built collapses if the regime in Iran collapses.”
Still, Netanyahu stopped short of predicting whether such a political change in Iran would happen.
“Is it possible? Yes. Is it guaranteed? No.”
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