Israeli President Herzog Warns Iran’s Nuclear Ambitions Threaten Israel During Romania Visit

During his official state visit to Romania, Israeli President Isaac Herzog delivered a historic speech to the Romanian Parliament. Upon arrival at the Parliament Palace, Herzog met with Senate President Mircea Abrudan and later with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sorin-Mihai Grindeanu, along with other senior government officials.

In his address, Herzog expressed gratitude to Romanian President Klaus Iohannis for the invitation and highlighted the deep historical ties between the Jewish people and Romania, referencing the city of Iași where Jewish poet Naftali Herz Imber wrote the draft of "Hatikvah," Israel’s national anthem. He praised Romania’s unequivocal condemnation of the Hamas massacre on October 7 and its humanitarian solidarity in the struggle to free Israeli hostages held in Gaza tunnels.

Herzog emphasized Romania’s principled stance as exemplary for the international community amid current geopolitical challenges. He warned that Iran’s regime and its proxies pose a threat far beyond the Middle East, endangering global stability, freedom of navigation, and democracies. Herzog commended former U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for their leadership in efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. He stressed Israel’s preference for a diplomatic solution but underscored that Iran’s nuclear ambitions and influence over Lebanon obstruct peace and security.

Highlighting recent progress, Herzog noted the recent Israel-Lebanon memorandum of understanding signed in Washington as a significant breakthrough toward peace, calling for the removal of Hezbollah and the establishment of a genuine peace agreement. He thanked the U.S. administration for its role and urged the European Union and international community to support Lebanon’s stability and Israel’s security. Herzog also expressed appreciation to the Romanian government for standing shoulder to shoulder with Israel in strengthening regional resilience and moral foundations, a topic he discussed extensively with President Iohannis during his visit.