Netanyahu doubts deal without complete nuclear disarmament

• Israel has destroyed 150 km of Gaza tunnels; 350 km remain.
• U.S.-Iran negotiations resume this week; Netanyahu expresses uncertainty about the outcome.
• The U.S. is dispatching a second aircraft carrier to the region amid rising tensions.

JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Sunday that he informed President Donald Trump last week that any agreement with Iran must include the complete dismantling of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, not merely halting enrichment activities.

During his speech at the annual Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Netanyahu reiterated the importance of Israel’s ongoing efforts to demolish all tunnels in Gaza. To date, Israel has destroyed 150 km of tunnels out of an estimated 500 km.

A second round of negotiations between the U.S. and Iran is scheduled for this week. An Iranian diplomat stated that Iran is aiming for a nuclear agreement with the U.S. that provides economic benefits for both nations.

Netanyahu expressed skepticism about the potential deal but emphasized that it must include the removal of enriched materials from Iran.

“There should be no enrichment capacity—this means not just stopping the enrichment process but dismantling the equipment and infrastructure that enable Iran to enrich in the first place,” he stated.

Early this month, the U.S. restarted negotiations with Iran to address their longstanding nuclear dispute and to prevent a possible military conflict.

The U.S. has deployed a second aircraft carrier to the region and is preparing for the possibility of a prolonged military campaign if negotiations fail, according to U.S. officials.

Netanyahu also indicated an intention to end U.S. military assistance to Israel within the next decade, after the current ten-year arrangement of receiving $3.8 billion annually ends in 2028. Most of this aid is spent in the United States on military equipment.

“Thanks to our robust economy, we can afford to gradually phase out this financial support,” Netanyahu said. “I propose a ten-year plan to reduce aid to zero. We intend to transition from receiving aid to fostering a partnership with the United States.”