Tel Aviv/Washington: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has alleged that Iran’s Islamic regime actively planned to assassinate US President Donald Trump, viewing him as the primary obstacle to its nuclear ambitions. The statement came during an interview with Fox News, amid escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran.
“They want to kill him. He’s enemy number one,” Netanyahu said, referring to Trump’s firm policies against Iran’s nuclear program.
According to Netanyahu, Trump’s decisive actions, including withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal, terminating IRGC commander Qasem Soleimani, and opposing uranium enrichment pathways, made him Iran’s top adversary.
“He killed Qasem Soleimani. He made it very clear… ‘You cannot have a nuclear weapon, which means you cannot enrich uranium,’” Netanyahu noted.
The Israeli leader also claimed he himself was a target of Iranian aggression, recounting an incident where a missile struck the bedroom window of his home. Netanyahu described himself as Trump’s “junior partner” in confronting Tehran’s nuclear threat.
‘Facing an Imminent Dual Threat’
Netanyahu justified Israel’s current military campaign—Operation Rising Lion—as a necessary preemptive measure against what he termed an “imminent dual existential threat” posed by Iran:
- Iran’s racing towards weaponizing enriched uranium for atomic bombs, with declared intentions to destroy Israel.
- Iran’s rapid expansion of its ballistic missile program, aiming for production capacity of 3,600 missiles annually—potentially reaching 10,000 missiles within three years, each capable of striking Israeli cities at speeds of Mach 6.
“No country can sustain that, and certainly not a country the size of Israel, so we had to act,” he stressed.
Netanyahu warned that without firm military intervention, Iran’s missile force could reach 20,000 weapons in 26 years, posing a global threat.
Operation Rising Lion ‘Set Iran Back Significantly’
The Prime Minister declared that Israel’s recent strikes had set back Iran’s nuclear program “quite a bit”, signaling frustration with diplomatic efforts, which he described as “going nowhere.”
“We are prepared to do whatever is necessary to eliminate the nuclear and ballistic missile threat Iran poses to the world,” he said.
Hailing Operation Rising Lion as “one of the greatest military operations in history,” Netanyahu claimed the offensive was not only a shield for Israel but a defense for global security.
Addressing the Iranian people directly, Netanyahu said they had suffered under “50 years of oppression” by a regime that has continuously threatened Israel’s existence.
Iran’s Retaliation Ongoing
Iran has retaliated with large-scale ballistic missile attacks on Israeli cities, although Israel’s advanced defense systems successfully intercepted many of these projectiles.
The ongoing exchange of hostilities marks one of the most dangerous escalations between the two regional powers in recent years.