The fragile pause between the United States and Iran was tested again Sunday by suspected Iranian drone strikes in the Persian Gulf, a new burst of violence in a conflict that has now spread from the Gulf into Lebanon. Those developments complicate U.S. efforts to secure a deal that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and stabilize global energy markets.
As the war enters its 11th week, CBS News correspondent Major Garrett conducted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s first U.S. broadcast interview since hostilities began. Netanyahu was cautious with specifics, but his remarks reveal how he sees the campaign evolving and what Israel expects from partners.
On the state of the campaign against Iran’s nuclear program, Netanyahu said the effort has achieved a great deal but is not finished. He noted that enriched uranium and enrichment facilities remain in Iran, along with the network of proxies and missile production capacity. Asked how highly enriched uranium would be removed, Netanyahu replied bluntly: physically go in and take it out — but he declined to discuss military means, plans or a timetable. He said President Trump had told him, “I want to go in there,” and that removing material is physically feasible if there is an agreement; beyond that he would not elaborate.
Hours before the interview, Israel struck Iranian-backed Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, underscoring a second front in the broader confrontation. Garrett asked whether the war with Iran could end while fighting against Hezbollah continued. Netanyahu said the battlefields should be treated separately and rejected the idea that a ceasefire with Iran should automatically leave Hezbollah intact. He argued Tehran would prefer that outcome because Hezbollah’s presence keeps Lebanon destabilized. When pressed whether Israel would accept Hezbollah remaining armed even if asked by the U.S., Netanyahu said no, and added that President Trump understands Israel’s position. He warned that unless Iran’s regime is significantly weakened or toppled, its proxy networks — including Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis — will remain a threat; if Tehran’s scaffolding collapsed, those groups would likely follow.
On whether regime change in Tehran is possible, Netanyahu said it cannot be predicted: it is possible but not guaranteed. He pushed back on reporting that he assured the president of certain victory, saying both leaders recognized the risks and uncertainty involved. The prime minister conceded that early expectations about the Strait of Hormuz evolved as the fighting progressed and that Iran learned over time the dangers of certain escalatory moves.
Netanyahu also noted an unexpected diplomatic effect of the conflict: increased willingness among some Arab states to deepen ties with Israel. He described growing interest in economic cooperation — energy, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies — and suggested the scope of such cooperation is expanding in ways that remain largely under the radar.
Regarding China, Netanyahu said Beijing has provided some support to Iran, including components useful in missile manufacturing, but he declined to elaborate.
On U.S. military assistance, Netanyahu called for a reassessment of Israel’s financial dependence on American aid. The long-standing bipartisan package currently provides about $3.8 billion a year. Netanyahu told Garrett he wants to begin weaning Israel off that financial component, aiming to draw it down to zero over the next decade and to start the process immediately rather than wait for the next U.S. Congress.
Netanyahu acknowledged declining American support for Israel, citing recent polling that shows growing unfavorable views. He attributed much of the reputational damage to social media, calling it an “eighth front” of the war. He argued that social platforms can be manipulated by foreign actors and amplified misinformation, and that Israel has suffered on the propaganda front despite efforts to warn civilians in conflict zones — through text messages, calls, leaflets and other measures. Nonetheless, he conceded that in war mistakes happen and civilians sometimes die; such losses are not deliberate but can occur in the fog of conflict.
The prime minister addressed Israel’s objectives in Gaza, where the Hamas-run health ministry reports tens of thousands of casualties. He said Israel has not yet achieved a key goal: disarming Hamas. Netanyahu insisted Gaza must be disarmed, demilitarized and deradicalized, and argued that responsibility for that outcome would fall on the parties willing to take it on. If the international community will not act, Israel may have to choose the timing and method for accomplishing it.
Asked about perceptions that he has a hunger for conflict, Netanyahu rejected that characterization, saying that prior to October 7 he was viewed as restrained on military matters. He said the Hamas-led attack on October 7 was not merely an isolated incident but part of a broader “Iran axis” attempt to annihilate Israel, and that the government’s response reflected that reality. He told Israelis he would not allow the destruction of the state and pledged to change the regional balance that allowed adversaries to conspire against Israel.
The interview highlights Israel’s strategic aims — from neutralizing Iran’s nuclear and proxy capabilities to reducing dependence on U.S. financial aid — while underscoring the political, diplomatic and media challenges that accompany a prolonged regional conflict. Produced by a CBS News team, the conversation mixed firm declarative goals with reluctance to divulge operational detail, reflecting the tightrope Israel walks between public accountability and national security secrecy.