Netanyahu says ‘war in Iran’ is not over as Tehran still holds enriched uranium
Netanyahu tells CBS ’60 Minutes’ the war in Iran is “not over” while Tehran retains enriched uranium and enrichment sites that must be removed, he says. Today.
Benjamin Netanyahu told an American television programme that the conflict he described as the war in Iran is “not over” because Tehran still holds enriched uranium and active enrichment sites. The Israeli prime minister said those materials and facilities must be removed from Iranian territory, a position he outlined during an interview with CBS’s 60 Minutes. His comments underscore ongoing Israeli concerns about Iran’s nuclear capabilities and the need, he said, for direct action to eliminate remaining stockpiles.
Netanyahu’s television remarks
Netanyahu appeared on CBS’s 60 Minutes, and excerpts released on Sunday included a blunt assessment of the campaign against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. He acknowledged that the effort had achieved significant results but insisted it remained incomplete. The prime minister specifically cited enriched uranium as a continuing problem that prevents declaring the campaign finished.
Focus on enriched uranium and enrichment sites
Israeli officials have repeatedly framed enriched uranium as the principal measure of Iran’s capability to develop a nuclear weapon, and Netanyahu reiterated that view in the interview. He argued that as long as stockpiles remain and enrichment facilities continue to operate, the strategic threat persists. The prime minister called for the physical removal of those materials and the dismantling of uranium enrichment operations.
On how to eliminate the stockpiles
When asked how the stockpiles could be taken out of Iran, Netanyahu responded succinctly: “Enter and take it out.” The phrase conveys a direct and operational prescription rather than a diplomatic pathway, and it signals that Israel sees kinetic options as part of its toolkit. While he did not detail a specific plan in the segment, the remark attracted immediate attention for its clarity and immediacy.
Context of recent strikes and campaign claims
Israel has in recent months been linked to or accused of a series of operations aimed at degrading Iran’s nuclear programme, according to regional reporting and statements by Israeli officials. Netanyahu said those actions had produced “a lot” of results but maintained they fell short of fully neutralising Iran’s capabilities. The prime minister’s interview places current operations within a broader, ongoing campaign rather than a completed mission.
Diplomatic and legal questions raised
Calls to remove nuclear material from another sovereign state raise significant legal and diplomatic questions under international law and non-proliferation frameworks. Any attempt to transfer or seize nuclear material would require complex coordination and risk escalation with multiple actors involved in the region. The remarks are likely to renew debate in capitals worldwide about the proper balance between preventive measures and adherence to international norms.
Potential regional and international implications
Netanyahu’s comments are likely to reverberate across the Middle East and in diplomatic capitals that favour negotiation over confrontation. Regional actors will be monitoring both Israeli statements and Iranian responses for signs of escalation. International partners may face increased pressure to clarify their positions on measures to reduce Iran’s nuclear stockpiles and on the legitimacy of unilateral operations.
The Israeli leader’s interview puts fresh emphasis on the question of what constitutes a decisive end to the campaign against Iran’s nuclear capabilities. By framing the issue in terms of physical removal and dismantlement, Netanyahu has set a high bar for closure that could prolong tensions and complicate diplomatic channels. How governments and international bodies respond to that prescription will shape next steps in a region already marked by longstanding mistrust.
