Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is gradually scaling back his sweeping ambition to end the war with Iran by toppling its regime, bringing his rhetoric closer to that of US President Donald Trump.
Netanyahu now speaks of “achieving tremendous gains” through three objectives: curbing Iran’s nuclear program, halting its ballistic missile program, and creating conditions that would allow the Iranian people to take control of their own future.
He acknowledged that overthrowing the Iranian regime from the air is not possible, drawing criticism from Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid, who accused him of manipulating public sentiment.
Lapid noted that, only weeks ago, Netanyahu had pledged to completely destroy the nuclear project, the missile industry, and the ability to repair damage, topple the regime, and eliminate Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
“The question is not what Iran can do today, but what it will be able to do tomorrow, at the end of the war or in a year,” Lapid wrote in a post on X.
Netanyahu held a press conference late Thursday into Friday, his second since the start of the Israeli-US war on Iran, addressing international audiences in English and Israelis in Hebrew.
His appearance seemed aimed at responding to debate in the United States and its echoes in Israel, particularly accusations that he had drawn Trump into the war and was now pushing to expand and prolong it.
War paradoxes
As Netanyahu spoke of dismantling Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities, Iranian missiles were falling on Jerusalem, oil refineries in Haifa, as well as Ashdod and the Galilee.
The prevailing impression in Israel is that Netanyahu convened the conference to counter accusations that he had succeeded in drawing Trump into a war with Iran, similar to the 2018 US withdrawal from the nuclear deal.
While Netanyahu may see such accusations as flattering, portraying him as influential in shaping international policy, many in Israel are concerned about their implications for future relations between Tel Aviv and Washington.
Many believe Israel’s critics in Washington, whose numbers are growing and whose rhetoric is sharpening, even within the Republican Party, are using this narrative to fuel hostility toward Israel and antisemitism.
Israel’s strike on Iran’s South Pars gas field and joint Iranian-Qatari energy facilities has also triggered a crisis in Gulf countries, particularly since such an operation could hardly have taken place without US knowledge.
The strike has raised questions about Washington’s conduct and its potentially hostile implications. While the United States denied prior knowledge, semi-official Israeli sources said the attack was carried out in full coordination with the Americans through a joint war command room.
Netanyahu appeared to defend Trump on both issues.
Netanyahu forcefully rejected claims Thursday that he misled President Trump into a potential conflict with Iran, calling the notion “fake news” and insisting the president made his own decisions based on American interests.
“Does anyone really think that someone can tell President Trump what to do? Come on,” Netanyahu said at a press conference on Thursday, adding that Trump “always makes his decisions based on what he thinks is good for America.”
“I misled no one, and I didn’t have to convince President Trump about the need to prevent Iran from developing its nuclear program, putting it underground, and being able to launch nuclear-tipped missiles at the United States. He understood that,” he added.
Addressing American journalists, Netanyahu cast speculation around how Iran would behave if it acquired nuclear weapons after decades of slogans such as ‘Israel is the lesser Satan and America the greater Satan,’ ‘Death to America’ and ‘Death to Israel.’
He then reiterated his accusations against Iran on its overt goal of erasing Western civilization. He said Iran tried to assassinate Trump twice and now it is engaging in blackmail.
On the second issue, Netanyahu said Israel had “acted alone” in striking the South Pars facility before President Trump requested a halt to any further attacks. Netanyahu then said Israel was complying with his request.
His remarks came shortly before Trump confirmed that he had asked the Israeli prime minister not to strike Iran’s energy facilities, and that he agreed.
Who will topple Iran’s regime?
Responding to further questions, Netanyahu said Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed at the start of the war, had ordered the resumption of missile and nuclear programs and their burial deep underground.
He added that Israel was targeting the industries enabling the production of such programs, rather than remaining missiles.
After 20 days of war, Netanyahu said he can confirm that Iran has no capability to enrich uranium or produce ballistic missiles.
He added that it was “too early to predict” whether the Iranian people would take advantage of the conditions Israel is trying to create and take to the streets, though he expressed hope that they would, stressing that “it is entirely up to them.”
Netanyahu said he sees “cracks” within Iran’s leadership and on the ground, adding that Israel is working to deepen these divisions.
With the war entering its 20th day, Israel is seeking to intensify these fractures, he said, noting that he does not know exactly who is currently leading the country.
Netanyahu said that what Israel is seeing in Iran is significant tension among rivals for power, avoidance of confrontation, and abandonment of responsibility by many officials, as well as chaos in governance and contradictions in decision-making.
Israel will continue efforts to deepen these divisions “as quickly as possible,” not only within the top leadership but also on the ground, he added.
