Just a day after the surprising announcement of a ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made it clear that Jerusalem maintains its own strategic priorities, even when they do not fully align with those of Washington.
During a press conference held on Monday night in Jerusalem, Netanyahu publicly acknowledged that he does not always share the same vision as U.S. President Donald Trump. “There are moments when President Trump and I do not see things the same way”, he stated. However, he emphasized that the bilateral relationship remains strong and that Israel will continue to act according to its security needs.
The statements come at a time of uncertainty regarding the understandings reached between Washington and Tehran. Netanyahu revealed that Israel is unaware of the specific terms of a potential nuclear agreement between the United States and Iran, a situation that could raise concerns in Israeli security circles.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and United States President Donald Trump
Despite this, the head of government was categorical in reiterating one of the historical red lines of Israeli policy: “Iran will never have nuclear weapons, neither today nor tomorrow”. The phrase reflects Jerusalem's persistent distrust of the Iranian regime and its determination to prevent the Islamic Republic from achieving nuclear military capability.
Netanyahu also took the opportunity to claim recent Israeli military actions against Iran-backed groups in the region. “We decapitated the leaders of the terrorist regime and destroyed the factories of terror,” he stated, referring to operations carried out in recent months. He asserted that the Israeli population faced an existential threat that required decisive responses.
On the northern front, the Prime Minister announced that Israel will maintain its presence in the security zone established in southern Lebanon “for as long as necessary”, a statement aimed at containing Hezbollah's operational capabilities near the border.
During the question-and-answer session, Netanyahu also highlighted that Israel is at the forefront of developing solutions against the growing threat of FPV (first-person view) drones, a weapon that has gained prominence in contemporary conflicts.
Finally, the leader rejected that the so-called Roaring Lion Operation, launched on February 28, aimed to overthrow the Iranian regime. And, in a sign that he is already thinking about the internal political scenario, he confirmed that he will run again in the upcoming elections. “I am going to win,” he assured, making it clear that, despite regional challenges, he is also focused on Israel's political future.
