Netanyahu Vows to Destroy Iran’s Nuclear Sites, Calls on U.S. to Hold Firm in Future Deal

In a defiant and high-stakes address delivered in Jerusalem on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed his government’s commitment to take military action against Iran’s nuclear facilities if necessary warning that time is running out to halt Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program.

“We will not wait for the world to wake up,” Netanyahu declared during a national security conference. “Israel will act decisively and with force to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. If we must stand alone, we will. But we will not stand by.”

Netanyahu’s comments come amid growing regional tensions and renewed concerns over Iran’s uranium enrichment activities, which Western intelligence agencies believe have accelerated significantly in recent months. Iran continues to deny that it is seeking nuclear weapons, insisting its program is strictly civilian. However, Israeli officials and a number of Western analysts dispute that claim.

The Israeli leader also called on the United States to ensure that any future agreement with Tehran whether negotiated by the current administration or under a future one must include ironclad restrictions on Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

“Any deal that does not dismantle Iran’s nuclear program is a threat not just to Israel, but to global security,” Netanyahu said. “President Trump understood this. His maximum pressure campaign was the right policy, and I urge the next dealmakers to remember why it worked.”

Netanyahu’s remarks appear timed to influence both domestic audiences and international allies, particularly as speculation grows about renewed U.S.-Iran negotiations under President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly criticized the original 2015 nuclear deal and withdrew the U.S. from it during his previous term.

While Trump has not commented publicly on the possibility of reopening talks, his administration’s previous stance aligned closely with Israel’s hardline approach prioritizing sanctions, military deterrence, and total dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

Iran has yet to respond to Netanyahu’s latest threats, though Iranian defense officials have repeatedly warned that any Israeli strike would trigger a “severe and immediate” response across the region.

As diplomatic uncertainty looms and the window for non-military solutions narrows, Netanyahu’s speech underscores Israel’s long-standing position: that it will not allow Iran to become a nuclear-armed state no matter the cost.