Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that “it is not over with Iran”, claiming that the country has been significantly weakened and asserting that both Israeli and American forces remain prepared should further action become necessary.
Speaking in an interview with CNBC, Netanyahu said that any full return to military operations against Iran would be decided by President Donald Trump. He added that Tel Aviv and Washington are aligned on preventing Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon or posing a threat to the Israeli occupation state.
Praising the American “blockade” of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz, which he described as “a brilliant and highly effective strike”, Netanyahu characterised Iran as “an enemy that wants to destroy our country and wants to destroy your country”, referring to both the Israeli occupation state and the United States.
Netanyahu Hints at Possible Future Military Action
Addressing the ceasefire with Iran, Netanyahu claimed that a “tactical game” is currently unfolding. He said Iran is aware of Trump’s remarks regarding the possibility of resuming military action if deemed necessary.
“I think Iran should take that into account,” Netanyahu said. “They understand that they are playing with fire.”
Netanyahu also returned to the issue of regime change in Tehran, claiming that Iran’s leadership has been significantly weakened. However, he declined to predict when such a change might occur, alleging that there are major fractures within Iran and that it is impossible to determine when a shift could take place.
Netanyahu Downplays Tensions With Trump
During the interview, Netanyahu attempted to minimise reports of disagreements with the American president. He acknowledged that the two leaders occasionally have what he described as “tactical disagreements”.
“Sometimes, like in the best families, we have these disagreements,” Netanyahu said, adding that they always find a way to resolve them “as great friends”.
His comments come after Trump, during a podcast interview broadcast on Wednesday, confirmed the accuracy of a report published by Axios claiming that he had described Netanyahu as “completely crazy” and accused him of being ungrateful.
“Yes, I did,” Trump said when asked about the report.
“I wouldn’t say I was angry, but I was somewhat annoyed by his ongoing conflict with Lebanon,” he added.
