Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shattered U.S. intelligence assessments, revealing Iran was just months away from developing nuclear weapons that could have triggered a “second Holocaust” against the Jewish people.
Key Takeaways
- Netanyahu revealed intelligence showing Iran was months away from developing nuclear weapons, directly contradicting U.S. intelligence assessments
- Israel’s recent preemptive strikes against Iran were justified under the “Begin Doctrine,” which asserts Israel cannot allow adversaries to develop nuclear capabilities
- Netanyahu warned that Iran planned to distribute nuclear weapons to proxy terrorist groups like the Houthis, creating “nuclear terrorism on a global scale”
- The Israeli Prime Minister claimed Iran and its proxies were behind assassination plots targeting both himself and President Trump
- Netanyahu positioned his actions as aligned with President Trump’s foreign policy approach, emphasizing the strikes have severely hindered Iran’s nuclear progression
Netanyahu Invokes Holocaust in Warning About Iranian Nuclear Threat
During a public appearance near Tel Aviv on June 15, 2025, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a stark warning about Iran’s nuclear ambitions, framing the threat in historical terms of existential danger to the Jewish people. Netanyahu’s forceful stance follows Israel’s recent preemptive strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities, actions he insists were necessary to prevent an imminent catastrophe. The Prime Minister’s position directly challenges the assessment from U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who had maintained that Iran had ceased its nuclear weapons program.
“Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged that he would not allow the Jewish people to suffer a ‘second Holocaust’ from a nuclear-armed Iran and insisted that the intelligence is ‘absolutely clear’ that the theocratic regime was on the verge of obtaining a nuke,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Intelligence Dispute Between Israel and U.S. Officials
The Prime Minister revealed that Israel had shared critical intelligence with the United States, showing Iran’s accelerated nuclear weapons development timeline. According to Netanyahu, this information demonstrated that the Iranian regime was implementing a covert plan to weaponize uranium and could have achieved a test device within months. This intelligence assessment stands in stark contrast to previous U.S. claims that Iran was not actively pursuing nuclear weapons, highlighting a significant intelligence disagreement between the allies.
“The Intel we got and we shared with the United States was absolutely clear — was clear, that they were working on a secret plan to weaponize the uranium. They were marching very quickly. They would achieve a test device and possibly an initial device within months, and certainly less than a year,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Netanyahu is absolutely correct. Iran has vowed to obliterate Israel. And has pledged to develop nuclear weapons to accomplish this. Israel we will do everything to prevent that possibility including if necessary sending Khameini to an early grave. https://t.co/NmJMRq4YKZ
— Marc Zell (@GOPIsrael) June 15, 2025
The Begin Doctrine and Netanyahu’s Long-Standing Concerns
Netanyahu’s actions continue a longstanding Israeli security policy known as the Begin Doctrine, established when Prime Minister Menachem Begin ordered the destruction of an Iraqi nuclear reactor in 1981. This doctrine asserts that Israel cannot allow its adversaries to develop nuclear weapons capabilities under any circumstances. For Netanyahu personally, the Iranian nuclear threat has been a decades-long concern. As one former senior aide noted, “Bibi’s been speaking about attacking Iran for 40 years,” underscoring how central this issue has been to his political career and security vision.
“Bibi’s been speaking about attacking Iran for 40 years,” – a former senior aide to the prime minister.
Iran’s Nuclear Terror Plans and Assassination Plots
In perhaps his most alarming claim, Netanyahu revealed that Israeli intelligence indicated Iran planned to distribute nuclear weapons to its proxy forces, including the Houthi rebels in Yemen. “Our intel shows that they intend to give these nuclear weapons to their Houthi proxies and others. And that’s nuclear terrorism on a global scale,” Netanyahu stated. He further accused the Iranian regime of orchestrating assassination plots against both himself and President Trump, suggesting a coordinated effort to eliminate opposition to their nuclear ambitions.
“Our intel shows that they intend to give these nuclear weapons to their Houthi proxies and others. And that’s nuclear terrorism on a global scale,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Impact of Israeli Strikes and Future Implications
Netanyahu emphasized that Israel’s recent strikes have significantly hampered Iran’s nuclear program, though concerns remain about deeply buried facilities that may require specialized American bunker-busting capabilities to fully eliminate. The timing of Israel’s actions is particularly notable, occurring just before planned U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations, which were subsequently canceled. While some experts question whether Iran’s underground facilities have been completely neutralized, Netanyahu maintains that the strikes were essential to protect not only Israel but the entire world from an Iranian nuclear threat.
Netanyahu pointed to the weakened state of Iran’s proxy forces and the regime’s increased vulnerability as factors that made this the optimal moment for decisive action. Despite some questioning the necessity and timing of the strikes, the Prime Minister remained resolute that Israel’s intelligence was accurate and the threat was imminent. President Trump has suggested the Israeli operations might lead to a diplomatic breakthrough with Iran, though Netanyahu expressed skepticism about the Iranian regime’s willingness to negotiate in good faith, given their long history of deception regarding nuclear activities.
