Netanyahu: "Capable of Attacking All Iranian Targets... Participation Up to Trump"

Revealed in Israeli Public Broadcaster Interview
"Capable of Eliminating All Iranian Nuclear Facilities, Including 'Fordow'"
Trump to Decide on U.S. Involvement Within Two Weeks

Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel (left), and Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran. Photo by AP Yonhap News

As the war between Israel and Iran entered its second week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on June 19 (local time) that Israel is capable of attacking all targets, including Iran's nuclear facilities, even without U.S. military support.

According to local media outlet Times of Israel, Prime Minister Netanyahu, in an interview with public broadcaster Kan, was asked whether resolving the Fordow nuclear facility issue depended on U.S. support. He responded, "We have the capability to eliminate all our targets, including all of their nuclear facilities," adding, "Whether he (U.S. President Donald Trump) chooses to participate in the attack is a decision for President Trump to make."

Iran's key nuclear facility, Fordow, is buried 90 meters underground beneath a mountain. For this reason, most military experts believe that it can only be destroyed using the U.S. Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), also known as the "bunker buster."

He went on to say, "He will do what is good for America, and I will do what is good for Israel," emphasizing, "I want to point out that, so far, everyone is playing their respective roles."

However, Prime Minister Netanyahu also emphasized in the interview that the United States has already provided significant assistance in defending Israel. He explained, "U.S. pilots are intercepting drones together with our pilots," and noted that among the thousands of drones launched by Iran, very few have succeeded in penetrating Israeli defenses. He also cited the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system delivered to Israel by the U.S. in October last year, as well as the deployment of U.S. Navy Aegis destroyers to the Middle East, as factors that have contributed to Israel's defense.

Prime Minister Netanyahu also explicitly stated that regime change in Iran is not his goal. "The issue of regime change or collapse in Iran is, above all, a matter for the Iranian people. There is nothing that can replace that," he said. He added, "For this reason, I have not set regime change in Iran as a goal. While it may be an outcome, it is not our explicit or official objective."

These remarks are interpreted as a response to speculation that Israel, which has been systematically targeting Iran's military leadership and nuclear scientists, may now be targeting Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader who has ruled Iran for 36 years.

Meanwhile, President Trump has formalized his plan to decide within two weeks whether the United States will launch a military attack on Iran. White House spokesperson Caroline Leavitt stated in a briefing that President Trump "will decide within the next two weeks, based on the fact that there is a very high likelihood of negotiations with Iran in the near future." Two weeks from now is July 3.