Netanyahu: Our strikes have stripped Iran of its missile and nuclear capabilities, and we are considering a ground intervention option

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed that the Islamic Republic of Iran has largely lost its technical capabilities to enrich uranium and manufacture ballistic missiles. These statements came about three weeks after the launch of a large-scale aerial campaign by Israeli forces in cooperation with the United States of America.

During a press conference held on Thursday evening, Netanyahu explained that the ongoing military operations have achieved qualitative leaps in destroying Tehran's military infrastructure. He stressed that the attacking forces are imposing a new reality that weakens the Iranian arsenal unprecedentedly, describing the current phase as a clear field victory.

The Israeli Prime Minister indicated that the airstrikes precisely focused on industrial facilities that represent the backbone of Iran's military programs. He clarified that the targeting included factories producing precise components for missiles and essential materials related to the nuclear project that Tehran has been trying to develop for many years.

Despite the confident tone in Netanyahu's speech, he did not provide concrete documents or evidence proving the complete cessation of uranium enrichment operations within fortified Iranian facilities. He merely indicated that the destruction of the factories feeding these programs would inevitably lead to a complete paralysis of the Islamic Republic's military and nuclear production capabilities.

In a related context, Netanyahu touched upon the possibilities of political change within Iran, considering that it is still too early to judge the effectiveness of popular protests. He left it to the Iranian people to decide the appropriate moment to act against the ruling regime, emphasizing that external military pressure could be a contributing factor in this direction.

In a remarkable development, Netanyahu revealed the study of options beyond aerial bombardment, hinting at the possibility of introducing a 'ground element' into the ongoing military operations. He did not disclose specific details about the nature or location of this intervention but affirmed that military decisive action might require a presence on the ground to ensure the achievement of strategic objectives.

Netanyahu strongly denied reports that Israel is pressuring the American administration to engage in this regional conflict. He questioned with indignation the ability of any party to dictate political or military directions to President Donald Trump, emphasizing the independence of American decision-making in this matter.

The Israeli Prime Minister also revealed the execution of isolated attacks targeting Iranian energy facilities, away from direct coordination with Washington on that specific point. He explained that this step came at a time when President Trump preferred to avoid escalation in the energy sector, but Israeli security necessities necessitated the action.

Netanyahu stressed that the military confrontation with Iran would not be bound by a specific time limit or a short-term timeline. He affirmed that the war would continue as long as necessary until the threats posed by Iranian weapons to the security and stability of the region are definitively eliminated.

These statements come amid a complete collapse of negotiation and international mediation tracks aimed at containing the Iranian nuclear program. It appears that the military option has become the primary driver of events in the region, with Israeli insistence on continuing attacks until Tehran's strategic capabilities are dismantled.

Netanyahu concluded his speech by emphasizing that Israel is fighting an existential battle aimed at fundamentally changing the balance of power in the Middle East. He considered the decline of Iran's missile and drone arsenal as just the beginning of a series of measures that will ensure Tehran is completely stripped of its military claws.

What we are currently destroying are the factories that produce the components for these missiles and the nuclear weapons they are trying to produce.