Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that Israel will not wait for U.S. approval to press forward with its military campaign against Iran, asserting that the country is prepared to strike every Iranian nuclear facility, including the heavily fortified Fordo site.
“We will achieve all our objectives and strike all of their nuclear facilities. We have the capability,” Netanyahu said in a rare Hebrew-language interview with Kan public broadcaster, underscoring Israel’s intent to act decisively and independently.
His remarks came just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump said he would decide within two weeks whether to support Israeli strikes, citing a “substantial” chance of diplomatic negotiations with Iran. “Based on the possibility of talks that may or may not take place, I’ll decide within two weeks whether to join the effort,” Trump said.
Netanyahu made it clear that Israel’s actions are not contingent on U.S. involvement. “Whether President Trump chooses to join us is entirely his call. He’ll do what’s best for the United States; I’ll do what’s best for Israel,” he stated, adding that Israel is not seeking permission from any foreign power. “We’re going to do this either way. We have no choice. We will not let 3,500 years of Jewish history end because of this deranged ayatollah.”
He outlined Israel’s broad strategy, which includes striking all of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, including deeply buried facilities like Fordo. Netanyahu stressed that Israel has the military capability to target even the most secure sites and is prepared to use advanced assets to achieve its goals.
According to the prime minister, Israel’s campaign is progressing faster than expected. He claimed that at least half of Iran’s missile launchers have already been destroyed and key military leaders eliminated. He also cited continued attacks on Iran’s Basij militia and internal security forces—both central to the regime’s grip on power—and promised further strikes on government symbols.
While Israel is prepared to operate alone, Netanyahu acknowledged the value of U.S. support, revealing that he speaks with President Trump “almost daily.” He described their conversations as “very good” but declined to share specifics, saying, “Let’s not open the historical archives just yet.”
Netanyahu praised Trump’s stance on Israel’s right to self-defense, contrasting it with former President Joe Biden’s efforts to limit Israeli actions against Iran’s regional proxies.
Asked whether regime change in Iran was part of Israel’s objective, Netanyahu said that was a matter for the Iranian people. “The fate of the regime is in the hands of the Iranian populace,” he stated. However, he affirmed that Israel is actively targeting institutions and symbols of the Iranian government, with more action expected.
Regarding Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Netanyahu avoided direct answers about assassination plans. “I’ve given instructions that no one is immune,” he said. “But I prefer actions over headlines.”
“In times of war, words must be chosen carefully and actions taken precisely,” he added—an apparent rebuke of Defense Minister Israel Katz, who has publicly threatened Khamenei.
