Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outlined both a military verdict and a regional infrastructure vision on Friday, declaring Iran’s military and nuclear capabilities destroyed while proposing a network of pipelines across the Arabian Peninsula to replace Hormuz-dependent energy routes. He denied Israeli responsibility for US involvement in the war. Netanyahu’s press conference was notable for its combination of immediate military assessment and long-term strategic planning.
The prime minister addressed the Trump-Israel alliance with characteristic confidence. He described their coordination as historically unmatched and framed Trump as the alliance’s driving force. Netanyahu revealed that Trump had brought his own independent and deeply formed understanding of Iran’s nuclear threat to their discussions, enriching their shared strategic thinking.
Netanyahu confirmed Israel struck the South Pars gas complex alone and acknowledged Trump’s personal request to pause further strikes on Iranian gas infrastructure. He presented both facts transparently, framing them as features of a close and communicative alliance. Netanyahu maintained that Israel’s operational independence had not been restricted by diplomatic engagement.
On the Hormuz issue, Netanyahu dismissed Iran’s closure threats as blackmail that would not succeed. He proposed overland pipeline corridors from the Arabian Peninsula to Israeli and Mediterranean ports as a lasting alternative. Netanyahu argued this infrastructure would permanently blunt Iran’s ability to use the strait as a geopolitical weapon.
Netanyahu concluded with observations about Iran’s leadership fractures. He noted the anticipated new supreme leader had not been seen publicly and admitted genuine uncertainty about who was running the country. Netanyahu pointed to fierce internal competition for power in Tehran and concluded that this chaos, combined with military losses, was driving the war toward a faster-than-expected end.