In a “60 Minutes” interview, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that military operations against Iran continue, citing the need to eliminate nuclear capabilities and Tehran-backed militias.
Iran’s Nuclear Ambitions
Netanyahu noted that while military operations have yielded results, they are not complete. He cited the remaining presence of enriched uranium, enrichment centers, the missile program, and Tehran-backed militias as reasons for the ongoing conflict.
When asked how to remove highly enriched uranium, Netanyahu replied, “You go in and take it.” He added that President Trump expressed a desire to intervene, stating that the physical execution of such an operation is not a problem provided an agreement exists, though he declined to provide a specific timeline.
The Lebanese Front
The Prime Minister explicitly rejected linking a ceasefire with Iran to the end of operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. He argued that Iran seeks such a connection so that Hezbollah can continue to “torture Lebanon” and shell Israeli cities, noting that President Trump understands this position.
Regime Change and Strategic Risk
Netanyahu believes the collapse of the Iranian regime would signal the end of Hezbollah, Hamas, and likely the Houthis. While he admitted that overturning the regime in Tehran is possible, he noted it is not guaranteed.
Addressing a New York Times report regarding a February 11 meeting at the White House, Netanyahu denied guaranteeing that a joint US-Israeli operation would lead to regime change. However, he confirmed that he and Trump agreed the risk of action is smaller than the risk of inaction.
US Military Aid and Shifting Public Opinion
Netanyahu expressed a desire to phase out US military and financial aid—currently $3.8 billion annually—over a decade. He proposed starting this process immediately rather than waiting for the next Congress, signaling his awareness of declining US support.
According to Pew Research, 60 percent of American adults now view Israel negatively, an increase of nearly 20 percentage points over four years. Netanyahu attributed this shift primarily to social media manipulation, calling it the “eighth front of the war,” and admitted that Israel is not performing well in the propaganda battle.
