JERUSALEM, Israel — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that Israel and the United States are “winning” the ongoing war against Iran, claiming the Islamic Republic’s military and nuclear capabilities have been significantly degraded.
Speaking during an English-language press conference on Thursday, Netanyahu said Iran had been “decimated” and no longer possessed the capacity to enrich uranium or manufacture ballistic missiles, following nearly three weeks of sustained military action.
“We are taking action to destroy the industries that make it possible to build missiles. Iran no longer has the capacity to enrich uranium and manufacture ballistic missiles. We are winning,” he said.
The Israeli leader also emphasized close coordination with US President Donald Trump, while dismissing suggestions that he had drawn Washington into the conflict.
“Does anyone really think that someone can tell President Trump what to do? He didn’t need any convincing,” Netanyahu said, describing the US leader as the “leader” in the alliance and Israel as a key ally.
However, Netanyahu acknowledged that Trump had intervened to restrain further escalation after Israel struck Iran’s critical South Pars gas field—an attack that rattled already volatile global energy markets.
“President Trump asked us to hold off on future attacks, and we’re holding off,” he confirmed.
The conflict has had far-reaching economic implications, particularly following Iran’s move to disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil transit route. Netanyahu described the move as “blackmail” and insisted it would not succeed.
Despite projecting confidence, Netanyahu hinted at ongoing instability within Iran’s leadership following the reported death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in an Israeli airstrike early in the war. He suggested internal divisions were emerging among competing factions.
“We’re seeing cracks, and we’re trying to propagate them as fast as we can… not only in the top command—we’re seeing cracks in the field,” he said.
Netanyahu also referenced Mojtaba Khamenei, widely believed to be a successor figure, noting his absence from public view amid the escalating crisis.
The Israeli premier signaled that military operations would continue, even as he expressed optimism that the war could end sooner than expected.
“There’s still more work to do, and we’re gonna do it,” he said, adding that while revolutions cannot be achieved solely through air power, “there are many possibilities” for further action.
Both Netanyahu and Trump have previously voiced support for internal political change in Tehran, though analysts caution that external military pressure alone rarely produces regime change.
The conflict, which has engulfed much of the Middle East, continues to raise global concerns over security, energy supply, and the risk of wider regional escalation, even as key actors project confidence in their strategic gains.
