‘We hit Iran twice, will do it again if...’: Netanyahu issues fresh warning over nuclear programme

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has delivered one of his strongest warnings yet to Iran, declaring that Israel would not hesitate to launch another military operation if it believes Tehran is moving closer to obtaining nuclear weapons.

Framing the issue as a matter of Israel’s survival, Netanyahu said Israel had already acted against Iran on two occasions and could do so again if required.

“We entered Iran twice to save ourselves from destruction. There will be a third time if necessary. As long as I’m Prime Minister, Iran will not have nuclear weapons,” Netanyahu said in an interview with an Israeli television channel.

The remarks come amid continuing tensions across the Middle East and renewed scrutiny of Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Netanyahu made it clear that preventing Tehran from becoming a nuclear-armed state remains a central objective of his government.

The statement raises the prospect of future Israeli military action against Iran, despite ongoing diplomatic efforts and regional negotiations aimed at reducing tensions.

‘The campaign is not over’

Netanyahu also indicated that Israel’s broader confrontation with Iran and Tehran-backed groups across the region is still underway.

While highlighting what he described as major strategic gains achieved in recent years, he argued that Israel’s mission had not yet been completed.

Asked whether his wartime objective of securing “total victory” remained intact, Netanyahu replied that the effort was ongoing and that further action would be taken against elements of what Israel calls the Iranian axis.

His comments suggest that Israel continues to view Iran’s regional network of allied armed groups as a major security challenge even after a series of military operations across the region.

The Israeli prime minister reiterated that Israeli forces would continue operating in southern Lebanon as long as Hezbollah retains military capabilities that Israel considers a threat.

Speaking during a visit to troops deployed near the Lebanese border, Netanyahu said Israel had no plans to withdraw while the Iran-backed group remained armed and capable of targeting Israeli territory.

Netanyahu avoids direct answer on Gaza settlements

On the politically sensitive question of whether Israeli settlements could eventually be rebuilt in Gaza, Netanyahu stopped short of outlining a clear policy.

Instead, he suggested that governments sometimes act before publicly discussing their intentions, declining to provide further details.