Israel nears goals in Iran after strikes on nuclear and missile sites: PM Benjamin Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday (June 22) said that Israel is very close to reaching its goals in Iran.

Netanyahu also stated that Israel has caused major damage to Iran’s nuclear facilities and its missile program, according to ANI.

In a recorded press briefing, the Israeli PM stressed that Israel does not want to get stuck in a long, drawn-out conflict with Iran. However, he made it clear that the military campaign will continue until all objectives are met.

“We’ll do only what’s necessary to reach our goals,” he said. “But we won’t stop too early. Once the goals are achieved, the operation will end.”

Netanyahu explained that the mission aims to eliminate two major threats to Israel’s existence: Iran’s nuclear program and its ballistic missiles. He said, “We’re making progress step by step and are very close to completing the mission.”

He mentioned that Iran’s nuclear site in Fordow has been seriously damaged, though he didn’t share specific details.

“We are pushing them back and removing the threat,” he added.

On Sunday, the Pentagon announced that the US launched Operation Midnight Hammer, targeting three major Iranian nuclear sites: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.

When asked about Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium, Netanyahu said Israel has “interesting intelligence” but chose not to reveal more. He noted that the uranium is a key part of Iran’s nuclear efforts, though not the only one.

Netanyahu said Israel had to act quickly because Iran was accelerating its nuclear plans after Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in September 2024. He also pointed to Iran’s plan to produce 300 ballistic missiles per month as a major reason for launching the campaign now. According to him, over half of Iran’s missile launchers have been destroyed in the past 10 days.

He shared that he had discussed the situation with U.S. President Donald Trump, who supported the need for action. “He understood our concerns and did the right thing—for America, for the free world, and for civilization,” Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu also believes that weakening Iran will help Israel in its fight in Gaza. “Without Iran’s support, everything falls apart,” he said. He added that the war in Gaza could end immediately if Hamas surrenders, gives up its weapons, and releases all hostages.

The Gaza conflict began in 2023 when Hamas attacked Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Israel responded by vowing to destroy Hamas. As of now, Hamas is still holding 50 hostages, including the bodies of some who have died. The Israeli military believes 20 of them are still alive, but there are concerns about the condition of two others.