Fact Check: Netanyahu’s Iran victory claims clash with unresolved threats
At a press conference, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu portrayed Israel’s war with Iran as a historic success and said he had removed an “immediate threat of annihilation” from Israel. The article argues that the reality is more complicated, and that the U.S.-Iran understanding is a major failure for Netanyahu and for Israel, even if he emphasized achievements and ignored setbacks.
Netanyahu spoke about his partnership with Donald Trump, saying they often see eye to eye and that he knows how to defend Israeli security interests. Asked whether he can still say no to a friendly U.S. president, he replied, “I think I do it in the best way.” The article says he did sometimes reject Trump before strikes in Beirut’s Dahieh district and before last week’s strike in Iran, but also recalls that Trump had already sent back Israeli aircraft heading toward major attacks on Iran during Operation “With All Its Might.” It also says Trump has insulted Netanyahu in harsh terms, including calling him “fucking crazy.”
The piece disputes Netanyahu’s claim that Israel “brought back all our hostages from Gaza,” saying he did not return them himself, was accused of sabotaging deals, and that 40 hostages died in captivity. It says Hezbollah is still attacking Israeli forces and that 17 soldiers have been killed by explosive drones. It also says Netanyahu exaggerated when he claimed Israel destroyed all of Assad’s military, and notes that Israel controls 59% of Gaza.
On Iran, the article says the deal leaves enriched uranium in place, does not curb the missile program, and does not limit funding for Iran’s proxies. It argues the Strait of Hormuz issue does not help Israel and says the agreement will give Iran billions of dollars even after major economic damage. The article ends by saying Netanyahu refuses to admit mistakes, refuses a state inquiry, and is framing the issue as a personal guarantee: “With a deal, without a deal, Iran will not have nuclear weapons... as long as I am prime minister of Israel, that will not happen.”
