Netanyahu Declares Iran's Nuclear and Missile Capabilities Neutralized Amid Ongoing Conflict

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Thursday that Iran's capacity to enrich uranium and manufacture ballistic missiles has been effectively neutralized. Speaking in Jerusalem, Netanyahu stated, "After 20 days, I can tell you — Iran today has no ability to enrich uranium, and no ability to produce ballistic missiles."

The announcement comes amid ongoing hostilities that began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes targeting Iran's nuclear and missile infrastructure. In response, Iran has conducted missile and drone attacks across the region, including a series of missile launches at Israel on Thursday, triggering sirens in Jerusalem and other areas.

Netanyahu emphasized the continued efforts to dismantle Iran's military capabilities, stating, "We are continuing to crush these capabilities. We will crush them to dust, to ashes." He also noted the targeting of facilities producing components for missiles and nuclear weapons, asserting, "We're wiping out their industrial base in a way that we didn't do before."

The Israeli Prime Minister expressed uncertainty about Iran's current leadership following the reported death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the initial wave of strikes. He remarked, "I'm not sure who is running Iran right now," and highlighted tensions among Iranian officials.

Netanyahu indicated that Israel is creating conditions for potential regime change in Iran but acknowledged that the ultimate decision rests with the Iranian people. He also mentioned the possibility of a ground component in the ongoing operations, stating, "There are many possibilities for this ground component, and I take the liberty of not sharing with you all those possibilities."

Regarding recent Israeli strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure, Netanyahu confirmed that Israel acted independently against the South Pars gas compound and is currently holding off on further attacks at the request of U.S. President Donald Trump. He emphasized the strong partnership between Israel and the United States, dismissing claims that Israel influenced U.S. actions against Iran.

In retaliation for the attack on the South Pars oil field, Iran launched missile and drone strikes targeting energy infrastructure across the Persian Gulf region, causing damage to facilities in Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Netanyahu underscored the importance of developing alternative routes for oil and gas pipelines to bypass strategic chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting that such developments could be a significant outcome of the current conflict.