Netanyahu says Iran could produce a nuclear weapon 'in a very short time'
WASHINGTON — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his government launched a "targeted military operation" against Iran to keep their enemy from producing a nuclear weapon.
In a video address, Netanyahu said Iran had taken steps in recent months to weaponize enriched uranium and was on the cusp of developing a nuclear weapon within months to a year.
"If not stopped Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a very short time," Netanyahu said in the address, which came shortly after Israel confirmed the overnight attack.
Israel's military targeted Iran's enrichment facility in Natanz, it's leading nuclear scientists and its ballistic missile program — weapons Netanyahu said could be used for nuclear capability.
"This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat," Netanyahu said in his remarks.
Netanyahu's military operation came in defiance of a public warning from Trump, who said hours before that he did not want to strike Iran while an agreement to halt the nation's nuclear program was still viable. A sixth round of talks had been scheduled to take place in Oman on Sunday, although it was not immediately clear in the aftermath of the June 13 strike if Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff still planned to attend.
Israel-Iran latest: Trump warns of 'massive conflict' over nuclear program
He spoke in English in the address, in which he sought to justify the strike. He claimed Iran, if it had nuclear capability, could provide nuclear weapons to its regional proxy groups, which the U.S. and other governments have designated as terrorists.
"Today it is clear that Iran was just buying for time," he said. "We have no choice but to act, and to act now."
The International Atomic Energy Agency estimated in a late May report that Iran had enriched uranium up to 60% purity. According to the IAEA and other organizations that monitor nuclear development, the level is close to the 90% enrichment that is needed to build a nuclear weapon.
The IAEA assessed on June 12 that Iran was not complying with nuclear nonproliferation obligations. Its board of governors passed a U.S.-backed resolution against the country for the first time in 20 years.
Overnight strike: Israel launches strikes against Iran as nuclear program talks falter
Invoking the Nazi Holocaust and the deaths of roughly 6 million Jews, the Israeli prime minister said his country, which was established in the wake of World War II, refuses to be the victim of a nuclear Holocaust.
Trump has said Iran can not be allowed to have a nuclear weapon, Netanyahu said as he made a direct appeal to European and American viewers.
"The increasing range of Iran's ballistic missiles would bring that nuclear nightmare to the cities of Europe, and eventually, to America," Netanyahu said.
Contributing: Davis Winkie
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Netanyahu: Iran could produce nuclear weapon 'in a very short time'
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