Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Iran’s bluff on Friday, dismissing threats to close the Strait of Hormuz as hollow blackmail while declaring that the country had lost all meaningful military power after twenty days of conflict. He denied Israeli responsibility for US involvement in the war, describing such reports as fabricated. Netanyahu was confident and detailed throughout the press conference, offering both tactical updates and a long-term strategic vision.
The prime minister’s comments on Trump were among the most striking of the briefing. He described their partnership as uniquely close and historically unprecedented, while emphasizing Trump’s full independence in entering the conflict. Netanyahu revealed that Trump had actually explained the gravity of Iran’s nuclear threat to him rather than receiving a briefing, underscoring the depth and reciprocity of their strategic relationship.
Netanyahu confirmed the South Pars strike as an independent Israeli operation and acknowledged Trump’s request to pause further attacks on Iranian gas infrastructure. He handled this diplomatically, presenting the exchange as evidence of an open and trust-based alliance. Israel’s military autonomy, Netanyahu repeated, remained non-negotiable.
On the Hormuz issue, Netanyahu proposed overland pipeline routes from the Arabian Peninsula to Israeli and Mediterranean ports as a lasting solution to maritime dependency. He said Iran’s closure threats amounted to blackmail against the world and would not succeed. Netanyahu framed this infrastructure vision as part of a broader post-conflict regional agenda.
Netanyahu’s final remarks highlighted Iran’s deepening internal confusion. He said Mojtaba had not appeared publicly and admitted he did not know who was governing the country. Netanyahu observed growing tension among Iran’s power-seeking factions and concluded that this chaos, combined with military setbacks, was driving the war toward a faster-than-expected end.