Netanyahu says Trump wants to 'exhaust possibility' of diplomacy on Iran nuclear issue

Speaking in an interview with NBC's Meet the Press, Netanyahu asserted that the US leader would not hesitate to use force if Tehran violated its commitments.

"I think President Trump wants to exhaust the possibility of achieving an agreement, especially on the nuclear issue, through negotiations. But he is obviously not shy about using force when the Iranians break every commitment they make--and usually a few hours or a few minutes after they make it. So, I think we should let the President have his opportunity," Netanyahu said.

The Israeli Prime Minister expressed gratitude for the US-Israel cooperation in countering Iran's nuclear ambitions, stating that their joint efforts had prevented Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them.

"You know, Israel is keenly grateful for the fact that America joined--and Israel joined forces--to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them, not only against us but against the entire West and against the United States," he said.

Netanyahu noted that many people do not realize how close Iran had come to advancing its nuclear capabilities, adding that recent military operations by the US and Israel had significantly set back Tehran's program.

"The fact that we had these two operations, which are called Midnight Hammer and Epic Fury... we call them Rising Lion and Roaring Lion; we actually drove it back," he added.

These remarks come against the backdrop of renewed tensions between the US and Iran. On Sunday, the United States launched strikes on 140 Iranian military targets using precision munitions deployed by land- and sea-based fighter aircraft, drones, and naval vessels. Targets included Iranian missile and drone sites, naval capabilities, ammunition storage facilities, communication networks, and coastal surveillance locations.

This development followed an attack by the IRGC on the Cyprus-flagged container vessel M/V GFS Galaxy in the Strait of Hormuz.

Further, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran claimed it has carried out a "heavy and surprise" attack on logistics support centres and refuelling platforms used by US aircraft carriers at the Port of Duqm in Oman, according to the IRIB state broadcaster.

The IRGC's public relations office told IRIB that the sites were "destroyed" in the attack, as cited by Al Jazeera.

Fresh Iranian attacks drew sharp condemnation from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and triggered formal diplomatic protests as the standoff on the Strait of Hormuz continues.(ANI)