Benjamin Netanyahu Declares Iran ‘Crushed’ But Says War Is Far From Over

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the ongoing campaign against Iran had succeeded in "crushing" the Islamic republic's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, asserting that Israel was now "strangling them".

“The campaign is not over yet, but it is already clear that we have historic achievements. Iran tried to encircle us with a stranglehold - Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Assad regime in Syria, the militias in Iraq, the Houthis in Yemen. Iran itself wanted to strangle us, but we are strangling them,” he said, referring to the war that began on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

Netanyahu’s remarks came as the United States and Iran held talks in Pakistan on Saturday, which later ended on an inconclusive note on Sunday.

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Hosting the negotiations amid a delicate ceasefire in the Gulf region, Pakistan emphasised the need for both sides to uphold the agreement.

"Pakistan has been and will continue to play its role to facilitate engagement and dialogue between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America in the days to come,” said Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

Netanyahu said Israel was open to entering into a "real" and enduring peace agreement with Lebanon, even as he intensified criticism of Iran and its regional proxies, maintaining that military operations against what he described as a "terrorist regime" would continue.

In a post on X, Netanyahu wrote, "Under my leadership, Israel will continue to fight against Iran's terrorist regime and its proxies, in contrast to Erdogan who aids them and even slaughters his Kurdish citizens."

According to Al Jazeera, Israel has agreed to begin formal negotiations with Lebanon next week following weeks of cross-border hostilities and a ground incursion into parts of Lebanese territory.

Netanyahu reiterated that Israel seeks an enduring peace arrangement with Lebanon, stressing that any agreement must ensure long-term security guarantees.

In a video address, Netanyahu said Israel is open to a peace deal with Lebanon, but only if it is long-lasting and conditional upon the "dismantling" of Hezbollah's military capabilities.

"Lebanon has approached us. In the past month, it has reached out several times to begin direct peace talks," said Netanyahu.

"I have given my approval, but on two conditions: We want the dismantling of Hezbollah's weapons, and we want a real peace agreement that will last for generations," he added.

(With inputs from ANI)