Iran “is starting from zero” with both its nuclear program and ballistic missile capabilities, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich told The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday morning after the conclusion of a 12-day war between Israel and Iran.
"The war is a remarkable achievement,” Smotrich said. “They [Iran] are starting from zero in both their nuclear program and missile capabilities, and I do not believe they will resume the program because it would mean confronting the United States.”
Smotrich warned that Israel would strike Iran again, “even if they do attempted to restart” the nuclear program, adding that Israel must act against Iran by sustaining sanctions and economic pressure to bring down the regime.
“Ultimately, Iran fully grasped the balance of power - it was defeated and pleaded for a ceasefire with the State of Israel. They have no nuclear program, no missiles, and we executed extraordinary targeted operations and destroyed critical infrastructure,” the finance minister told the Post.
“For three days, they shut down the internet, so the Iranian public was unaware of the humiliation. Now, every Iranian citizen, including those in the capital, Tehran, will witness this defeat."
Ben-Gvir calls on PM to extend war
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a security cabinet meeting late on Monday night, along with the six cabinet members who had convened before and during the war.
In the meeting, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called on Netanyahu to continue to campaign in Iran for a “few more days” and declare forcing the collapse of Iran’s Islamic regime as one of Israel’s stated war goals.
“I congratulate the prime minister on the accomplishment, but the regime’s collapse must be declared a stated war goal; we can extend the operation for a few more days,” Ben-Gvir said in the cabinet meeting.
“A historic opportunity has presented itself to deal a death blow” on Iran’s remaining proxies in Gaza, Lebanon, and the West Bank, the national security minister aded, stating that “momentum must be maintained.”
The decision to bring the war in Iran to a close was not brought to a vote in the security cabinet meeting, the Post has learned.