By Kazeem Ugbodaga
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a live Fox News interview, claimed Israel had significantly degraded Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and warned that Israel would not hesitate to act independently of diplomatic efforts.
Speaking to host Bret Baier, Netanyahu praised U.S. President Donald Trump, describing their relationship as “fully coordinated” and repeatedly commending Trump’s leadership.
When asked if he had requested U.S.-made “bunker buster” bombs – capable of destroying fortified underground targets, from Trump, the Israeli leader declined to comment directly, stating: “I’m not going to get into my discussions with the president. But understand that his decisions are his decisions.”
Netanyahu asserted that Israel had already struck key nuclear facilities, including a high-profile attack on Iran’s nuclear plant in Isfahan.
“I think we’ve set them back quite a bit,” he said. “I think they were completely surprised.”
The Israeli Prime Minister claimed Israel now had a “free highway to Tehran” due to its air superiority over Iranian skies, adding, “We can now pick off the targets we need in Tehran and in other places.”
Pressed on Trump’s recent suggestion that Israel and Iran should “make a deal,” Netanyahu was blunt: “It is worth it if they [Iran] do what the president wants and dismantle their nuclear capability… but we’re not going to wait for that.”
He emphasised that even a cessation of missile attacks from Iran wouldn’t change Israel’s posture. “The issue here is not de-escalation. The issue is not ceasefire. The issue is to stop those things that threaten our survival.”
Iran, for its part, has repeatedly denied developing nuclear weapons, insisting its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes.
In a notable moment during the interview, Netanyahu was asked whether Israel’s actions were aimed at regime change in Tehran.
“It could certainly be the result, because the Iranian regime is very weak,” he responded, citing internal dissent. “Eighty percent of the people want to overthrow it,” he claimed, without providing evidence.
He also spoke of historical ties between the peoples of Israel and Iran, saying, “The Persian people and the Jewish people have had an ancient friendship. The decision to act, to rise up at this time is the decision of the Iranian people.”
