Israel Katz Says Israel Expects Trump to Hold Firm on Iran and Security Demands

Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Friday that he is following the emerging U.S.-Iran agreement and expects President Donald Trump to maintain the core principle of blocking Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, along with restrictions on missiles and proxy militias. Katz said the United States is pursuing an accord based on American interests, which he described as overlapping with Israel’s, and added, “We expect him to stand by this principle and additional principles in the areas of missiles and terror proxies.” He said the joint Israeli-American strikes dealt Iran severe blows and set back its capabilities by years.

Katz also said Israel must ensure it can continue to act independently in the future to prevent Iran from getting nuclear arms, and said he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had instructed the Israel Defense Forces to prepare accordingly. He stressed that Israel will not withdraw from what he called security zones in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza, saying the IDF will continue defending Israel’s borders and civilians from Mount Hermon, the Lebanon mountains, parts of Samaria and most of Gaza.

He linked that posture to lessons from the October 7 attacks and said the army will not leave the terror camps in northern Samaria, which have been evacuated of residents, and could expand the operation to additional camps if needed. Katz said Israel’s security doctrine is to confront threats near and far and seek decisive outcomes rather than compromises or concessions.

He also said the government is determined to keep pursuing a hard security line that will protect recent gains and preserve the ability to fight what he called the Shiite axis led by Iran and the Sunni axis led by the Muslim Brotherhood. Katz thanked the IDF command for its achievements, praised soldiers in regular service, career service and reserves, saluted northern residents for their resilience, and sent condolences to bereaved families and wishes for recovery to wounded Israelis in body and mind.