Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that any U.S.-Iran agreement must go beyond stopping uranium enrichment—it must dismantle Iran’s nuclear infrastructure entirely.
Netanyahu delivered this message to President Donald Trump last week, telling him that halting enrichment alone would be insufficient.
Speaking Sunday at the annual Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Netanyahu also addressed Israel’s operations in Gaza.
He said Israeli forces have destroyed 150 kilometers of tunnels out of an estimated 500 kilometers, but more work remains.
A second round of U.S.-Iran talks is expected this week. An Iranian diplomat said Iran is seeking an agreement that would bring economic benefits to both countries.
Netanyahu expressed skepticism about the negotiations. He said any deal must require Iran to remove all enriched nuclear material from the country.
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“There shall be no enrichment capability—not stopping the enrichment process, but dismantling the equipment and infrastructure that allows you to enrich in the first place,” he said.
Iran and the United States resumed nuclear negotiations earlier this month to address their longstanding dispute and prevent potential military escalation. U.S. officials told Reuters that Washington has deployed a second aircraft carrier to the region and is preparing for a possible extended military campaign if talks fail.
Netanyahu also said Israel intends to end U.S. military aid within the next decade. The current 10-year agreement provides $3.8 billion annually and expires in 2028.
“We can afford to phase out the financial component of the military aid we’re receiving, and I propose a 10-year drawdown to zero,” Netanyahu said. “In the three years remaining in the present memorandum of understanding and another seven years, draw it down to zero.”
“We want to move with the United States from aid to partnership,” he said.
(Reuters)