Netanyahu Warns Iran Nuclear Threat Lingers Despite Ceasefire, Urges US Action

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a stark message this weekend: the war with Iran is not over, and the threat from Tehran’s nuclear program remains urgent. Speaking in a CBS 60 Minutes interview, Netanyahu acknowledged that Israeli intelligence initially underestimated the scale of Iran’s ability to disrupt global shipping through the Strait of Hormuz—a vital artery for roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil supply. This disruption has already driven up oil and US gasoline prices, adding political pressure on the Trump administration.

Netanyahu emphasized that Iran’s possession of highly enriched uranium and operational enrichment facilities presents an ongoing danger. “There’s still nuclear material, enriched uranium, that has to be taken out of Iran,” he said bluntly. When pressed on how to remove it, Netanyahu’s answer was unequivocal: “You go in, and you take it out.”

This demand comes amid stalled negotiations and a ceasefire brokered by Pakistan that has paused but not resolved the conflict between Israel, the US, and Iran since it erupted on February 28. Tehran insists its nuclear program is peaceful and rejects what it calls Washington’s “excessive demands,” while President Trump has labeled Iran’s response “totally unacceptable.”

The International Atomic Energy Agency has repeatedly warned that Iran’s uranium enrichment to 60 percent purity—just shy of weapons-grade—lacks credible civilian justification. Netanyahu’s position aligns with Trump’s insistence that Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon.

Beyond nuclear concerns, Netanyahu framed Iran’s regional influence as the root of broader instability. He predicted that a collapse of the Islamic Republic would mean the end of Hezbollah, Hamas, and likely the Houthis, all of which rely heavily on Tehran’s leadership and support.

Interestingly, Netanyahu also suggested Israel might begin reducing its dependence on US military aid, currently about $3.8 billion annually under a decade-long agreement signed in 2016. He called this the “right time” to rethink the financial terms of the US-Israel relationship, signaling a potential shift in the longstanding alliance.

This interview exposes the persistent tensions and unresolved dangers that continue to define the US-Israel-Iran standoff. Netanyahu’s call for direct action against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure underscores the limits of diplomacy so far and highlights the stakes for global security and energy markets. As the ceasefire holds tenuously, the risk of escalation remains high, and the Trump administration faces mounting pressure to take a harder line or face the consequences of prolonged regional instability.