Netanyahu says Iran degraded by Israeli strikes; war could end soon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking at his second news conference since the conflict began, claimed that Iran can no longer enrich uranium or produce ballistic missiles. He described Iran as being in a weaker state than at any time in recent memory and said Israel had achieved an overwhelming victory in the war.
Netanyahu asserted that Israel’s military campaign has degraded Iran’s military capabilities. He said the Israeli Air Force has dropped about 12,000 bombs across Iran, destroying about 85% of Iran’s air defenses and 60% of its ballistic-missile launch sites. He also framed the strikes as having reached the northern Caspian Sea coast, saying Iran’s naval and military infrastructure suffered broad damage.
The Israeli leader projected that the war could end sooner than many expect. He also rejected accusations that the United States had been drawn into the fighting, calling such claims “fake news.” He asserted that former President Donald Trump makes decisions based on U.S. interests and said, at Trump’s request, Israel would refrain from additional airstrikes aimed at Iran’s gas sector.
Netanyahu also argued that Iran’s leadership is badly divided. He claimed there is deep discord within Iran’s ruling elite and that it is unclear who truly holds power inside the regime. He singled out the leadership’s public-facing figure, describing the apparent new supreme leader as someone who has not yet emerged publicly, with tensions running high among senior Iranian officials.
The remarks come amid heightened regional tensions and long-standing U.S. and allied concerns over Iran’s nuclear and missile programs. For readers outside Korea and the region, the statements underscore potential shifts in Middle East security dynamics, the prospects for further escalation, and the risk to global energy markets and supply chains linked to Iran and the broader Gulf.
U.S. policymakers and markets typically watch such developments for signals about alliance commitments, sanctions policy, and the stability of export routes through the region. While Netanyahu’s comments reflect Israel’s position, they do not constitute independent confirmation of Iran’s capabilities or leadership struggles, and observers will await corroborating international reporting and official statements from Tehran or Western intelligence agencies.
In context, the episode highlights how a potential widening of conflict in the Middle East could affect American security interests, diplomatic calculations with partners in the region, and global markets tied to oil, natural gas, and defense technology. The situation remains fluid, with official assessments from multiple governments expected in the coming days.