Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday proclaimed a “historic victory” in Israel’s 12-day war with Iran, pledging that his country would not allow Tehran to restore its nuclear infrastructure.
In a nationally televised address following the announcement of a ceasefire, Netanyahu stated, “We have achieved a historic victory… Iran will never have a nuclear weapon.” He emphasized that Israel had dismantled key elements of Iran’s nuclear program and warned that any efforts to rebuild it would be met with swift and forceful retaliation. “If anyone in Iran tries to rebuild it, we will act with the same determination, with the same intensity, to foil any attempt,” he added.
Earlier that day, Israel’s Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir claimed that the military operation had set Iran’s nuclear progress “back by years,” adding that Israel was now entering a “new phase” of its campaign.
The Israeli government, in an official statement, said that its military strikes eliminated the “dual existential threat” posed by Iran’s nuclear ambitions and missile program. The multi-pronged assault, dubbed Operation Rising Lion, reportedly targeted Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure, eliminated high-ranking security officials, and hit state-run media outlets and Evin prison in Tehran.
Netanyahu praised the operation’s scale and impact, asserting that it would “be recorded in the annals of Israel’s wars, and will be studied by armies all over the world.”
The conflict escalated further when the United States joined the offensive on Sunday. President Donald Trump, speaking after U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, declared that American forces had “totally obliterated” Iran’s main nuclear facilities.
Despite these claims, international analysts remain cautious. Some experts suggest Iran may have preemptively relocated its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, leaving open the question of how significantly the strikes disrupted its nuclear capabilities.
In response to the ceasefire, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signaled Tehran’s readiness to return to nuclear talks with the U.S. However, he reiterated Iran’s longstanding position, saying the country would continue to “assert its legitimate rights” to peaceful nuclear energy. Tehran has consistently denied allegations of pursuing nuclear weapons.
What you should know
Prime Minister Netanyahu declared Israel’s military campaign against Iran a major strategic victory, claiming long-term damage to Iran’s nuclear program. While Iran insists on its right to peaceful nuclear use, Israel has vowed to prevent any future reconstruction of Tehran’s nuclear capabilities. Analysts, however, warn that the full extent of the damage remains uncertain.
