Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel remains prepared to confront Iran again if necessary, despite a temporary truce reached between Washington and Tehran.
In a televised address on Wednesday (Apr 8), Netanyahu said Israel would continue pursuing its objectives either through diplomatic agreement or renewed military action, stressing that operations were far from over.
“We are prepared to return to combat at any moment required. Our finger remains on the trigger,” he said, adding that the current pause in fighting was only a stage in a broader campaign.
Netanyahu also said Iran had been weakened significantly by recent developments, claiming the country had emerged from the conflict in a far more vulnerable position.
He confirmed that the temporary two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran was implemented in coordination with Israel, dismissing claims that the agreement had caught the country off guard.
The Israeli leader also rejected criticism from opposition figures, including Yair Lapid, who described the truce as a “diplomatic disaster” and accused the government of failing to meet its wartime objectives.
Netanyahu said Israel’s core goals included dismantling Iran’s nuclear programme, degrading its missile capabilities, weakening its regional influence, and targeting its allied networks.
He claimed Israeli operations had destroyed missile production facilities and significantly reduced Iran’s remaining stockpiles, while also damaging key infrastructure linked to its nuclear programme.
According to Netanyahu, centrifuge facilities and other critical nuclear sites had been hit, and efforts were underway to prevent Iran from retaining enriched uranium.
He further stated that Israel had disrupted the financial and weapons production networks of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, alongside strikes on industrial and transport infrastructure.
Netanyahu also highlighted close military coordination with the United States, describing the joint operation as one of the largest in the region’s history and emphasising the strength of the alliance between the two countries.
