Netanyahu Declares ‘Historic Victory’ in War with Iran, Vows to Prevent Nuclear Rebuild

Israel says strikes set back Tehran’s nuclear programme by years as ceasefire begins

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday proclaimed a “historic victory” following a 12-day conflict with Iran, vowing to prevent Tehran from ever rebuilding its nuclear programme. His statement came just hours after a mutually agreed ceasefire between the two nations took effect.

In a televised address lasting nearly ten minutes, Netanyahu told the Israeli public, “Iran will never have a nuclear weapon. We have thwarted Iran’s nuclear project. And if anyone in Iran tries to rebuild it, we will act with the same determination, with the same intensity, to foil any attempt.”

The announcement came after Israel’s military chief, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, said the campaign had set back Iran’s nuclear programme by years, marking a turning point in the regional conflict. “The campaign is now entering a new phase,” Zamir added.

The Israeli government claimed its military campaign, code-named “Operation Rising Lion,” successfully neutralized the dual existential threat posed by Iran’s nuclear weapons programme and missile capabilities. The operation included precision airstrikes on nuclear and missile facilities, targeted assassinations of Iranian security figures, and bombings of Tehran’s state media infrastructure and the notorious Evin Prison.

Netanyahu asserted that the operation would “be recorded in the annals of Israel’s wars and studied by armies all over the world.”

Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that Iran remains open to nuclear negotiations with the United States, but would continue to assert its “legitimate right” to peaceful atomic energy.

On Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that American forces had joined the campaign, claiming they had “totally obliterated” key Iranian nuclear sites.

However, international analysts have warned that the full extent of damage remains uncertain. Some speculate Iran may have relocated its stockpile of highly enriched uranium before the attacks, leaving its long-term nuclear capabilities ambiguous.

Tehran continues to deny any intent to develop nuclear weapons, maintaining that its programme is for civilian energy purposes.