Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Friday that the military is preparing an enforcement plan to ensure Iran cannot rebuild the threats it posed to Israel, following the 12-day war between the two countries.
"The IDF achieved remarkable successes in thwarting Iran’s nuclear program and missile production system—the two threats that posed the greatest danger to Israel,” Katz said during a joint situational assessment with senior military officials.
He added that the Israeli army “must prepare both intelligence-wise and operationally to ensure air superiority over Tehran and to prevent Iran from rebuilding its capabilities.”
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, who also took part in the briefing, said the recent operation marked a major milestone in Israel’s defense strategy. “The operation is over — but the campaign is not,” he said, describing it as the result of years of planning, intelligence gathering, and operational preparation.
US says Iran’s nuclear program set back by up to two years
The comments came as the US confirmed that strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure last month caused major setbacks. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said on Wednesday that the June 22 attacks, carried out with bunker-buster bombs and Tomahawk cruise missiles, had set Iran’s program back by one to two years.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the Fordow site had sustained heavy damage but insisted the nuclear program would continue. “Our peaceful nuclear program has turned into a matter of national pride and glory,” he told CBS News.
International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi said Iran retains the technical ability to resume enrichment within months. In response to the strikes, Iran’s parliament passed a law requiring the suspension of cooperation with the IAEA until the security of its nuclear sites and scientists is guaranteed. The Supreme National Security Council has been tasked with assessing those guarantees, and the government must report to parliament every three months on the status of implementation.
Araghchi denied that Iran had ended its cooperation entirely, calling such claims “fake news.” He said Iran remains committed to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and its safeguards agreement with the IAEA, and that future cooperation would now be coordinated through the National Security Council due to heightened security concerns.
