Smotrich says Iran deal harms Israel, urges continued action against Tehran and Hezbollah

Cabinet minister Bezalel Smotrich said the new agreement between the United States and Iran is harmful to Israel and to the “free world,” while voicing support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid mounting international pressure on Israel. Smotrich is a member of the political-security cabinet and the chairman of the Religious Zionism party.

“The agreement with Iran is bad for Israel and the entire free world. Period,” Smotrich said. He added that although the campaign against Iran has produced “many achievements” in weakening the Islamic Republic, Israel must continue acting to prevent the Iranian regime from obtaining nuclear weapons. “We will need to continue the campaign to bring down the regime ourselves and in creative ways, and make sure Iran never has nuclear weapons,” he said.

Smotrich also said Netanyahu is facing unusual challenges on the world stage and argued that no one who sees themselves as a future prime minister could withstand even “10 percent” of the pressure now being placed on the Israeli government and especially on its leader. He presented his remarks as support for Netanyahu during this period of diplomatic strain.

Turning to Lebanon, Smotrich said Israel must preserve the IDF’s operational freedom against Hezbollah. “In Lebanon we will be tested. This is our war, our fighters, and the immediate security of our northern residents,” he said. He pledged to keep working in the cabinet and government to prevent restrictions on IDF activity in southern Lebanon and to ensure continued “full operational freedom” to push Hezbollah farther away.