Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war with Iran will not end until the country's highly enriched uranium is removed [1].
The statement signals a rigid security requirement for the cessation of hostilities, suggesting that diplomatic resolutions must include the physical dismantling of nuclear infrastructure.
During an interview on CBS’s 60 Minutes that aired on May 10, 2026 [1], Netanyahu outlined the conditions necessary for peace. He said the war with Iran is not over until the removal of highly enriched uranium and the dismantling of enrichment facilities [1].
Netanyahu indicated that while a negotiated settlement is a viable path, the outcome must be absolute. He said an agreement would be the best way to take the material out, though he refused to provide a specific timetable [2].
The Prime Minister emphasized that the presence of nuclear materials remains the primary driver of the ongoing conflict. He said Israel will not stop until the uranium is removed [3].
This position underscores a strategy of total denuclearization for Iran as a prerequisite for stability. The insistence on removing materials and dismantling sites suggests that mere freezes on enrichment levels are insufficient to satisfy Israeli security concerns.
“The war with Iran is not over until we remove the highly enriched uranium and dismantle the enrichment facilities.”
Netanyahu's demands shift the goalposts of the conflict from a ceasefire to a comprehensive disarmament of Iran's nuclear program. By linking the end of the war to the physical removal of uranium and the destruction of facilities, Israel is signaling that it views any deal that leaves enrichment capabilities intact as a failure, potentially narrowing the window for traditional diplomatic compromises.
