Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the war with Iran cannot be considered finished until Tehran’s stockpile of enriched uranium is removed and its nuclear facilities are dismantled.
Speaking in an interview aired Sunday on CBS News’ “60 Minutes,” Netanyahu insisted that despite recent military gains against Iran, key objectives remain unresolved.
“It’s not over,” he said. “There’s still nuclear material enriched uranium that has to be taken out of Iran. There are still enrichment sites that need to be dismantled.”
When asked how the uranium could realistically be removed, Netanyahu replied bluntly: “You go in and you take it out.”
The Israeli leader also suggested that US President Donald Trump shares the same position, though Trump’s public comments appear more measured.
Trump, who has faced growing pressure at home to bring the conflict to an end, recently described Iran as “militarily defeated” and argued that the United States already has the situation under control.
“We’ll get that whenever we want,” Trump said in a separate interview. “We’ll have it surveilled. If anybody got near the place, we would know.”
Netanyahu, however, made clear that Israel still sees Iran’s nuclear capabilities as an unfinished threat.
While he said he would prefer a diplomatic arrangement that allows the uranium to be removed peacefully, he refused to rule out other options.
“I think it can be done physically,” he said, adding that the best outcome would be an agreement that allows international access to the material.
Beyond the nuclear issue, Netanyahu argued that Iran’s regional influence remains a major concern.
He accused Tehran of continuing to support proxy groups across the Middle East and attempting to rebuild parts of its missile program despite recent military setbacks.
“There’s still work to be done,” he said.
Netanyahu also claimed China has been assisting Iran by supplying components connected to missile manufacturing, though he declined to provide further details.
In another notable remark, the Israeli prime minister said he eventually wants Israel to phase out its dependence on American military aid, which currently stands at about $3.8 billion annually.
“I think it’s time we begin to wean ourselves off the remaining military support from the United States,” Netanyahu said, suggesting the process could happen gradually over the next decade.
He also suggested that a collapse of Iran’s leadership could weaken or even dismantle groups like Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis, which Israel and its allies accuse Tehran of backing financially and militarily.
Still, Netanyahu stopped short of predicting the fall of Iran’s government.
“Is it possible? Yes,” he said. “Is it guaranteed? No.”
