Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said late Saturday that Israel had “annihilated” Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs in the bombing campaign carried out jointly with the United States, reports AFP.
Benjamin Netanyahu PHOTO Profimedia
The statement was made while, in Pakistan, peace negotiations between Washington and Tehran continue, according to the same agency, cited by Agerpres.
“We managed to annihilate the nuclear program and to annihilate the missile program” of Iran, Netanyahu said in a televised speech, arguing that the military offensive had also affected Tehran's political and military leadership as well as its network of allies in the region.
“They wanted to strangle us, and (now) we are the ones strangling them. They threatened us with annihilation, but now they are fighting for their survival“, the Israeli prime minister also declared.
Launched on February 28 by the US and Israel, the military campaign against Iran was suspended on Wednesday, with a two-week truce taking effect as the two countries try to reach a negotiated solution.
Although Iran's political and military leadership was severely affected by the airstrikes, Tehran continued until the ceasefire to launch drones and missiles at Israel and US interests in the region. According to the quoted source, there are no indications that the Iranian regime is on the verge of losing power or being replaced by a leadership favorable to the interests of Washington and Tel Aviv.
We recall that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was criticized this week by the leader of the Israeli opposition, Yair Lapid, for the way he handled the conflict with Iran, after the head of the Israeli government supported the two-week truce proposed by US President Donald Trump.
