Finance Minister and cabinet member Bezalel Smotrich said Israel is not obligated by the talks and understandings between the United States and Iran that, he argued, restrict Israeli freedom of action in Lebanon. Speaking at the MUNI EXPO 2026 conference of the Local Government Center, he said, “We are not committed to this negotiation and we are not committed to these agreements. We set our red lines and we know how to stand by them firmly.”
Smotrich made the remarks even as, in practice, the IDF has stopped its strikes in Lebanon and its proactive activity there, and is now limited to protecting forces already operating deep inside the territory. He insisted, “We have full freedom of action, and we will continue preventing Hezbollah from strengthening itself, as we have done until today. That is why we were not willing to sit around this negotiation table. We preserve our security freedom of action and will continue acting to prevent any future attempt by Hezbollah to build up its power.”
On the possibility of another operation in Iran, Smotrich said the political leadership can decide to send the IDF to act over Tehran. “The IDF today is one decision by the political echelon away from operating over Tehran and doing what is required. Iran is completely exposed. It is much weaker, both militarily and politically,” he said. He added that Israel has significantly delayed Iran’s nuclear plans and missile project, and that Israel now has the ability to act in Iran if a real threat emerges. “That is our decision, and such a situation did not exist before,” he said.
