Netanyahu says Israel could enter Iran to remove uranium stockpiles

Netanyahu said he believed the uranium could be physically removed but a negotiated arrangement would be preferable.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested that Iran’s enriched uranium stockpiles may ultimately need to be physically removed from the country, including through a possible direct operation if diplomatic efforts fail.

In an interview with Major Garrett on CBS News’ “60 Minutes” that aired Sunday, Netanyahu said major parts of Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure remained intact despite the war and continued strikes.

“There are still enrichment sites that have to be dismantled. There are still proxies that Iran supports. There are ballistic missiles they want to produce. Now we’ve degraded a lot of it, but all of that is still there, and there is work to be done.”

Netanyahu described Iran’s nuclear program as the central unresolved issue in the regional conflict and argued that Iran’s stockpile of 60% enriched uranium remained a major threat.

Asked by CBS correspondent Major Garrett how the uranium could be removed, Netanyahu replied, “You go in, and you take it out.”

Garrett then asked whether that would involve Israeli or American special forces.

“Well, I’m not gonna talk about military means,” Netanyahu responded. “But President Trump has said to me, ‘I want to go in there.’”

Netanyahu said he believed the uranium could be physically removed but a negotiated arrangement would be preferable.

“If you have an agreement, and you go in and you take it out, why not? That’s the best way,” he said.

When pressed on whether the material could be removed by force if no agreement were reached, Netanyahu declined to discuss possible military plans.

“I’m not gonna talk about our military possibilities, plans, or anything of the kind,” he said.

The prime minister also said the war with Iran had “accomplished a great deal” but remained unfinished because enrichment facilities, ballistic missile production and Iranian-backed proxy groups still existed.

Netanyahu did not provide a timetable for any possible future operation targeting Iran’s uranium stockpiles.