Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went beyond military declarations on Friday, envisioning a new regional order emerging from the conflict while declaring that Iran’s nuclear ambitions had been effectively ended after twenty days of fighting. He denied Israeli responsibility for US involvement in the war. Netanyahu’s press conference was ambitious and forward-looking, combining specific military announcements with a broader strategic vision for the post-conflict Middle East.
The prime minister addressed the Trump-Israel relationship with clarity and admiration. He called their coordination historically unmatched and positioned Trump as the alliance’s leader. Netanyahu disclosed that Trump had contributed his own independent analytical insights on Iran’s nuclear threat to their discussions, reflecting the depth and reciprocity of their strategic partnership.
Netanyahu confirmed Israel struck the South Pars gas complex alone and disclosed Trump’s request to pause further attacks on Iranian gas facilities. He handled both facts with transparency, framing them as natural and healthy features of an extraordinary alliance. Netanyahu maintained that Israel’s operational independence remained fully intact throughout.
On the Hormuz question, Netanyahu dismissed Iran’s closure threats as blackmail and proposed overland pipeline routes from the Arabian Peninsula to Israeli and Mediterranean ports as a structural solution. He argued this infrastructure would create lasting energy security for the region and permanently neutralize one of Iran’s most powerful geopolitical tools.
Netanyahu concluded with an analysis of Iran’s internal chaos. He noted Mojtaba had not appeared publicly during the conflict and admitted he was genuinely unsure who was governing the country. Netanyahu pointed to fierce competition among Tehran’s power factions and concluded that this political instability, combined with military losses, was driving the conflict toward an end sooner than most anticipated.