Netanyahu: Fight against Iran and proxies is not over, nuclear weapons prevention remains key

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Monday that the conflict with Iran and its allied militant groups, such as Hezbollah, remains ongoing. Speaking at a press conference, Netanyahu highlighted Israel's achievements in confronting Iran, asserting that the nation has eliminated the risk of its people being annihilated for years to come.

"We have completely removed the risk that the people of Israel could have been annihilated for years to come. This is what we have done, and we have saved the state of Israel from the brink of annihilation," Netanyahu claimed, according to AP and other news outlets. He stressed that the fight is far from over, extending beyond Iran to its regional proxies operating in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and the West Bank.

Netanyahu reaffirmed his personal mission to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, stating unequivocally that Iran will not possess nuclear weapons "today and not tomorrow," regardless of any agreements. He vowed to take all necessary measures to thwart Iran's nuclear ambitions and indicated that Israeli forces would maintain a presence in a "buffer zone" in southern Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza for as long as deemed necessary.

The prime minister's assertive stance comes amid significant political challenges within Israel. Reports suggest that his government has not achieved clear successes in dismantling Iran's nuclear program, and the conflict with Hezbollah continues without a definitive end. Opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized any potential agreement with Iran as a "shocking failure" and vowed to rectify the situation. Political commentators also expressed concern that an agreement could lead to substantial financial inflows for Iran, further complicating regional security.