Netanyahu: Iran Restarts Nuclear Drive and Plots to Eliminate Israel

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that Iran has restarted its nuclear programme and intends to eliminate Israel in the near future, issuing the warning just days before Israel’s general election on 27 October.

In recent statements and a campaign video, Netanyahu said Tehran is once again advancing its nuclear ambitions after earlier Israeli strikes set the programme back. He described the Iranian effort as an existential threat, warning that the regime seeks Israel’s destruction and calling for the eventual overthrow of the Iranian government as the only lasting solution.

The comments come amid heightened tensions. Netanyahu has repeatedly argued that previous operations, including those referred to as Rising Lion and Roaring Lion, disrupted Iran’s progress toward nuclear weapons but did not end the underlying threat. He maintains that as long as the current regime remains in power, it will continue attempts to rebuild both its nuclear and ballistic-missile capabilities.

The remarks form a central theme of Netanyahu’s election campaign, in which he positions himself as the leader best placed to confront the Iranian threat. He has linked the issue to broader regional security concerns involving Iranian-backed groups and has stressed that Israel will not allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons while he is in office.

Iran has consistently denied seeking nuclear weapons, stating its programme is for peaceful purposes. International monitors and various governments continue to assess Iran’s nuclear activities, with differing views on the pace and intent of recent developments.

The statements underscore the sharp focus on national security in the final days of Israel’s election campaign and keep the long-running Iran-Israel confrontation at the centre of regional attention.