Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Friday that Israel had permanently changed the strategic map of the Middle East through twenty days of conflict that eliminated Iran’s uranium enrichment and ballistic missile production capabilities, removing Tehran as a credible nuclear threat to the region. He rejected claims about Israeli manipulation of US foreign policy and expressed confidence the war was approaching its formal end. Netanyahu was historically ambitious and confident throughout the press conference.
The prime minister addressed his partnership with Trump in expansive terms. 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 deep understanding of Iran’s nuclear threat to their discussions, reflecting a genuine partnership of shared strategic conviction.
Netanyahu confirmed Israel struck the South Pars gas compound alone and disclosed Trump’s personal request to pause further strikes on Iranian gas infrastructure. He presented both facts transparently, framing them as natural features of an extraordinary close alliance. Netanyahu maintained throughout that Israel’s operational independence remained fully intact.
On the Hormuz question, Netanyahu dismissed Iran’s closure threats as global blackmail that would not succeed. He proposed overland pipeline corridors from the Arabian Peninsula to Israeli and Mediterranean ports as a lasting structural alternative. Netanyahu argued this infrastructure would permanently neutralize the Hormuz chokepoint and transform the region’s energy architecture.
Netanyahu concluded with observations about Iran’s visible leadership breakdown. He noted Mojtaba had not been seen publicly and admitted genuine uncertainty about who was governing the country. Netanyahu pointed to fierce competition among Tehran’s ruling factions and concluded that this instability, combined with military losses, was driving the conflict toward a faster-than-expected conclusion.