Netanyahu Says Israel Will Attack Iran Even Without the United States

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel is prepared to attack Iran without U.S. involvement if necessary. He reaffirmed his determination to overthrow the government in Tehran and described striking first as a central principle of Israel’s security doctrine. The announcement comes as indirect negotiations continue over the war launched by the United States and Israel in February. Israel, a major recipient of U.S. military aid and weapons, justifies its operations on security grounds, even as the conflict has spread across the region, disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, and driven up global energy prices. Speaking on Sunday about his security doctrine, Netanyahu argued that as long as the Iranian government remains in power, it will rebuild its nuclear and military capabilities. He made clear that Israel is prepared to launch further attacks without waiting for U.S. participation. “If we have to act alone, we will act alone,” he said.

Netanyahu cited Israel’s previous campaign against Iran as a model, saying he had told U.S. President Donald Trump that Israel would attack Tehran regardless and had invited him to participate in the strike on the Fordow nuclear facility. He described further action against Iran as unfinished business and explicitly identified overthrowing the Iranian government as the ultimate objective. “We are working on it, and we will get it done,” he said.

Tehran has repeatedly insisted that its nuclear program is peaceful and denied seeking to acquire nuclear weapons. Nevertheless, Netanyahu again claimed that U.S.-Israeli strikes had prevented Iran from obtaining an atomic bomb intended to destroy Israel. He presented the latest attacks as part of a broader doctrine that prioritises striking before an adversary can act. Comparing a pre-emptive strike to gaining the upper hand in childhood street fights, he said Israel could establish bases far beyond its borders. According to Netanyahu, Israel would have to rely on “its sword” to survive for many years.

He also discussed plans to seize and destroy sites in the occupied West Bank that he described as centres of threat, identified preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state as a fundamental principle, and included disrupting military and civilian systems as part of Israel’s deterrence strategy. Negotiations between the United States and Iran are already deadlocked. Last month, Trump rejected Tehran’s proposal as unacceptable and insisted that Iran was losing badly because of the U.S. blockade, while demanding that Tehran reach an agreement on Washington’s terms.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated on Saturday that normal shipping through the Strait of Hormuz could resume within seven days if Washington accepted Tehran’s conditions. These include ending the naval blockade, easing restrictions on oil exports, releasing frozen assets, and ending hostilities on all fronts, including Israeli operations in Gaza and Lebanon. Despite these diplomatic efforts, Trump has threatened renewed bombing. Axios recently reported that U.S. officials expect major military operations could resume after the November midterm elections. Tehran has warned that another attack would trigger a broader retaliatory campaign, potentially targeting U.S. technological infrastructure across the Gulf.