Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a pointed lesson in deterrence theory on Friday, declaring that Iran was learning that nuclear blackmail had limits and that Israel had set those limits through twenty days of conflict that destroyed Tehran’s 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, framing the war as a contribution to broader regional security.
The prime minister addressed the Trump-Israel alliance with characteristic directness. He described their coordination as historically unprecedented and framed Trump as the dominant partner. Netanyahu revealed that Trump had contributed his own independently formed and analytically sophisticated understanding of Iran’s nuclear threat to their discussions, enriching their shared strategic thinking.
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, treating 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 dismissed Iran’s closure threats as empty blackmail. He proposed overland pipeline corridors from the Arabian Peninsula to Israeli and Mediterranean ports as a permanent structural solution. Netanyahu argued this would create lasting energy resilience and permanently neutralize one of Iran’s most feared geopolitical weapons.
Netanyahu concluded with analysis of Iran’s leadership vacuum. He noted 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 instability, combined with military losses, was pushing the war toward a faster-than-expected conclusion.