Finance Minister and cabinet member Bezalel Smotrich said at the MUNI EXPO 2026 conference that Iran is now highly exposed and that the IDF is only one political decision away from acting there again. Speaking on Tuesday, he said Israel is still expanding its battlefield gains while preserving full operational freedom. On Iran, he said, "The IDF is today one political decision away from operating over Tehran and doing what is required," adding that "Iran is completely exposed. It is much weaker, both militarily and in terms of governance." He said Israel had significantly delayed Iran’s nuclear program and missile project, and claimed the regime lost more than $400 billion in the latest operation.
Smotrich also addressed diplomatic contacts and criticism from fighters in the north, saying Israel is not bound by agreements that could harm its security. "We are not obligated to this negotiation and we are not obligated to these agreements," he said. "We set our red lines and we know how to stand by them firmly. We have complete freedom of action." He said Israel is not part of the Lebanon monitoring mechanism by choice, but continues operating there to deepen military gains. "We will continue preventing Hezbollah from building up, as we have done until now," he said, adding that this is why Israel was not willing to sit at that negotiating table.
Turning to Gaza, Smotrich said Israel has expanded its control of territory there and now controls 70% of the Strip. He added that "there is no war without constraints, so it is better not to be populist." He also praised US President Donald Trump, saying, "Trump has gone a long way with us and we must not be ungrateful."
