Netanyahu: Iran Will Never Get Nuclear Weapons Under My Watch

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a forceful statement on Saturday as reports grew about an emerging U.S.-Iran framework deal. He said he and President Donald Trump are in complete agreement that Iran will not obtain nuclear weapons.

"As long as I am prime minister of Israel, Iran will not have nuclear weapons. There is full agreement between me and President Trump on this issue," Netanyahu said. He added that for more than 30 years he has been on the front line of the international fight against Iran’s nuclear program. "Without this struggle, Iran would long ago have had atomic bombs to destroy Israel," he said, arguing that Iran seeks to wipe out the Jewish state and that he has devoted his life to preventing that.

His comments came against the backdrop of reported progress in talks between the United States and Iran. According to reports from Iran, the draft framework demands an immediate and permanent halt to fighting on all fronts, including in Lebanon, as well as a clear American commitment not to interfere in Iran’s internal affairs and to respect its sovereignty.

The Iranian proposal also calls for lifting the naval blockade within 30 days, withdrawing U.S. forces from around Iran, and reopening the Strait of Hormuz within 30 days under Iranian responsibility. On the economic side, Tehran is demanding a suspension of sanctions on oil and petrochemicals, access to its funds, and a reconstruction plan worth at least $300 billion funded by the United States and its allies. It also wants $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets released during the talks, with half available before substantive negotiations begin. The final negotiation phase would last 60 days and focus only on the nuclear issue and sanctions relief, while Iran would reaffirm its NPT pledge not to build nuclear weapons and accept a monitoring mechanism later approved by the UN Security Council.