Taking a combative stance at Friday’s press conference, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied that Israel had been responsible for drawing the United States into the conflict with Iran. He called the narrative false and questioned whether anyone seriously believed Israel could dictate the decisions of a leader like Donald Trump. Netanyahu also announced that Iran has lost its ability to enrich uranium and produce ballistic missiles after twenty days of fighting.
Netanyahu described his relationship with Trump in warm but firm terms, calling it the most coordinated bond between two national leaders he had experienced. He emphasized that Trump’s understanding of Iran’s nuclear threat was independently formed and deeply informed, to the point where Trump explained aspects of the threat to Netanyahu rather than receiving a briefing. This framing positioned the two leaders as equal partners drawn together by shared conviction.
The prime minister confirmed that Israel carried out the strike on the South Pars gas facility without American military participation. He noted that Trump personally requested a pause in further strikes on Iranian gas infrastructure, a request Netanyahu publicly acknowledged. The transparency of this disclosure was seen as a signal of how openly the two sides communicated during active hostilities.
On the Strait of Hormuz, Netanyahu called Iran’s threat a form of blackmail against the world and predicted its failure. He introduced the concept of pipeline corridors across the Arabian Peninsula to Israeli and Mediterranean ports as a strategic alternative to Hormuz dependency. Netanyahu framed this not merely as a crisis response but as a generational infrastructure opportunity for the region.
Netanyahu’s closing comments turned toward Iran’s internal instability, with the prime minister noting that the new supreme leader had not appeared publicly since the conflict began. He said he had genuine questions about who was in control in Tehran, pointing to visible competition among rival power centers. Netanyahu said this confusion at the top of Iran’s government reinforced his belief that the war’s end was approaching faster than outside observers realized.