Dermer Says Iran’s Nuclear Capability Has Been Destroyed and Hezbollah Is Weakened

Former minister Ron Dermer said overnight Tuesday at a United Hatzalah gala in New York that Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities have been severely damaged, and that Hezbollah is far weaker than before. He said that “three years later, Iran’s nuclear capability has been destroyed,” adding that the Islamic Republic now has only highly enriched material stored at two deeply buried sites and that its ballistic capability has been set back by years.

Dermer said the damage gives Israel time to improve its defenses. On the diplomacy surrounding a possible deal with Iran, he said it is not a nuclear agreement but one meant to ease global economic pressure and, to some extent, pressure on Iran. He said Israel would know within two or three weeks whether Iran is willing to give up its nuclear plans, but he doubted it would happen.

Turning to Lebanon, Dermer said Hezbollah is “not the force it was on October 7” and estimated it may be at “25%” of its former strength, though still capable. He argued that defeating Hezbollah would require an army twice the size of the IDF, and said Israel will not allow a terrorist group to threaten its borders. He added that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made clear Israel must act to prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding, and that the administration understands this.

On Gaza and the hostages, Dermer said Hamas wanted negotiations to last ten years. He said ministers had to balance bringing the hostages home with responsibility for the security of 10 million Israelis, and that the key decision to send forces into Gaza City helped secure the release of the last hostage group, alongside diplomatic pressure from the Trump administration. He said the war ended on Israel’s terms, but the job is not finished. Dermer also rejected criticism from figures such as Tucker Carlson, calling it “absurd,” and said Israel is a better ally than France or Britain, a force that can project power, and an important partner for US national security.