As the United States and Iran entered cease-fire talks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed that he would continue military offensives against Iran.
On the 11th (local time), Netanyahu said in a video statement, "Operations against Iran are not over yet," adding, "We still have work to do." He said, "They tried to tighten a noose around our neck, but we are tightening a noose around theirs," underscoring his intent to stay on the offensive.
Netanyahu claimed that "the Iranian regime is begging for a cease-fire and there are internal rifts within its leadership." Citing intelligence that Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons using enriched uranium, he stressed that this was why Israel launched attacks on Iran in June last year and in February this year. Netanyahu added, "We can say clearly that we have already achieved a historic success," giving himself high marks.
On the 7th, the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week cease-fire, yet Israel is continuing airstrikes against Hezbollah, a pro-Iran militant faction, in southern Lebanon. Netanyahu said, "We are still fighting them, and the war is not over."
In connection with this, Israel and Lebanon are set to hold their first face-to-face talks in the United States on the 14th, with Hezbollah's disarmament on the agenda. Netanyahu said, "I approved the talks," emphasizing, "A real peace agreement is needed."
Netanyahu's remarks are seen as mindful of the U.S.-Iran cease-fire negotiations held the same day in Islamabad, Pakistan. Netanyahu is known to have conveyed to U.S. President Donald Trump his view that the war should continue. In a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) the same day, he also said, "As long as I am in office, Israel will continue to fight the Iranian terror regime and its proxies."