Netanyahu Warns Iran of "Extraordinary Force" Attack

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a stern warning to Iran, cautioning against any attempts to escalate tensions with Israel during the upcoming Knesset elections. He stated that any Iranian effort to influence the election outcome would result in an Israeli strike against the "ayatollah regime" with "extraordinary force." Netanyahu also addressed domestic political matters, rejecting the possibility of sharing the prime minister's post with Gadi Eisenkot on a rotation basis, citing the potential for political paralysis. He recalled past experiences with similar scenarios, emphasizing their negative consequences.

Turning to his ongoing legal battles, Netanyahu declared his intention not to accept a plea deal, characterizing the proceedings as a politically motivated campaign against him. He asserted that the decade-long investigations have caused significant harm to him, his family, and his close associates, even impacting the families of his aides. Netanyahu claimed that recent developments have revealed the baselessness of all accusations.

In a separate development, Netanyahu reportedly informed then-U.S. President Donald Trump in February 2025, during their first meeting after Trump's return to the White House, about Israel's plans to attack Iran. Netanyahu added that Iran was on the verge of developing nuclear weapons capable of destroying Israel prior to an Israeli strike in 2025.

However, a security source has reportedly stated that intelligence agencies lack data to corroborate Prime Minister Netanyahu's claim that Iran has resumed its nuclear weapons development.