Netanyahu claims conflict effectively dismantled Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, announced on Saturday that the collaborative US-Israeli effort against Iran has been successful in dismantling the country's nuclear and ballistic missile programs, effectively "crushing" them.

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Netanyahu made these comments while Iranian and US officials engaged in two rounds of face-to-face discussions in Pakistan, aiming to bring an end to the Middle East war, with a third round anticipated for Saturday evening or Sunday, as reported by Iranian state television.

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According to Netanyahu, the joint campaign has not only crippled Iran's nuclear and missile programs but also significantly weakened the country's leadership and its regional allies, resulting in a situation where Iran no longer operates a single functioning enrichment facility.

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The Israeli Prime Minister attributed this success to the US-Israeli war launched in June 2025, followed by the current campaign that commenced on February 28, which prevented Iran from acquiring a nuclear bomb.

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Netanyahu revealed that the latest war was initiated after intelligence suggested that the late Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei had planned to expand the country's nuclear and missile programs, even after the June 2025 war, by concealing production facilities deep beneath a mountain, beyond the reach of B-2 aircraft.

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As a result of the joint campaign, Netanyahu claimed that most of Iran's missile production capacity has been eliminated, with the remaining stockpiles dwindling, and the regime is now seeking a ceasefire, marking a significant achievement in the war effort.

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For decades, Iran's leadership and its allies have posed a threat to Israel, seeking to annihilate the country, but Netanyahu asserted that the tables have turned, with Iran now fighting for survival.

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Regarding Lebanon, Netanyahu stated that the country has approached Israel about a potential peace deal, with multiple requests for direct peace talks in the past month, to which he has agreed, subject to two conditions: the dismantling of Hezbollah's weapons and a lasting peace agreement.

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A meeting is scheduled to take place in Washington next week between Lebanon and Israel to discuss a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war and potential negotiations between the two neighbors, as announced by Lebanon's presidency on Friday.

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Hezbollah and Israeli forces have been engaged in conflict since March 2, resulting in the deaths of at least 2,020 people in Lebanon, including 248 women, 165 children, and 85 medical and emergency personnel, according to the Lebanese health ministry.

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Israel recently carried out its largest air attack on Lebanon since March 2, reportedly killing hundreds of Hezbollah fighters, and sparking protests in Tel Aviv, where around 800 Israeli demonstrators rallied against the wars in Iran and Lebanon on Saturday.

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The protesters accused Netanyahu of attempting to derail the ceasefire with Iran, with one banner reading "In Bibi, we don't trust," and chants of "No to endless wars, no to a government of death" filling the air.

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Protester Martin Goldberg, 61, expressed his distrust of Netanyahu, stating that the Prime Minister is not in favor of a ceasefire with Iran and that the recent large-scale attack in Lebanon was an attempt to sabotage the ceasefire with Iran.