More ‘Work to be Done’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday on CBS’ 60 Minutes that there’s more “work to be done” in Iran, refusing to detail a timetable for prolonged conflict and military efforts to deter the Middle East nation from procuring nuclear weapons from their enriched uranium.

Netanyahu, in his first interview since Israel and the United States jointly launched military strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, told CBS’ Major Garrett that the war in Iran is “not over,” specifically pointing to dismantling uranium enrichment sites and removing the uranium before Iran can produce ballistic missiles.

“I think [the military operation] accomplished a great deal, but it’s not over, because there’s still nuclear material, enriched uranium that has to be taken out of Iran,” Netanyahu said. “There are still enrichment sites that have to be dismantled. There are still proxies that Iran supports. There are ballistic missiles that they still want to produce.

“Now, we’ve degraded a lot of it. But all that is still there, and there’s work to be done.”

Asked what that would entail, Netanyahu said with a laugh, “You go in, and you take it out.”

Military.com reached out for comment to the White House but received no response by press time.

He was coy when asked about particular details, such as whether ground forces would be required in the war’s next phase—or if conversations have been had with U.S. President Donald Trump on providing ground troops and the like.

Questions about military strategy and how long both Israeli and American forces would have a presence in Iran were met with Netanyahu openly admitting to “dodging” questions to keep details of the broader operation minimal.

“Can it end with, as President Trump has led, now, a blockade, an economic pressure on them to do it with non-military means? Fine. If it can be accomplished, why not? But if not both the United States and Israel, we both agree, President Trump and I, that if necessary, we can reengage them militarily, if it’s necessary.”

‘You Go In, and Take It’

The conflict has now reached the 2 1/2 month mark, with a militarily depleted Iran using the Strait of Hormuz as arguably its best bargaining chip in terms of ongoing negotiations that in recent days have gone nowhere.

The U.S. recently launched the “Project Freedom” operation aimed to help ships navigate the strait as the blockade has had nefarious effects on shipping, leading to gas prices averaging $4.50 across the U.S. on May 11, according to AAA. Last week, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told gathered press at the White House that “Operation Epic Fury” had already concluded.

Also on Monday, Trump said the ceasefire with Iran that has been in place since April 8—following Trump’s threats last month to destroy Iran’s “whole civilization”—is “on massive life support.” Trump also called Iran’s counteroffer to end the war “garbage.”

When Garrett followed up with Netanyahu and how an operation to go in and take Iran’s enriched uranium would work, and whether that would involve Special Forces from Israel and/or the U.S. working in tandem under international supervision, Netanyahu said he would not publicly disclose “military means” but inferred that he and Trump have the same perspective when it comes to the overall outlook.

“What President Trump has said to me, ‘I want to go in there.’ I mean, he’s said that publicly,” Netanyahu replied. “He’s said it, and I think he’s right. He’s very committed to this.

“And I think it can be done physically. That’s not the problem. If you have an agreement, and you go in, and you take it out, why not? That’s the best way.”

Netanyahu said that if Israel and the U.S. never struck Iran to begin with, the country would “have a bomb now or within a month or two,” adding that the Iranian regime is probably at its weakest position since 1979.

He was also asked about Israel’s financial dependence on the United States and whether that could wane in upcoming years. Netanyahu told Garrett that he “wants to draw down to zero” on U.S. support, whereas Israel currently receives roughly $3.8 billion annually.

Americans in polls have expressed dissatisfaction with their tax dollars going towards the Israeli military.

“I think that it’s time that we weaned ourselves from the remaining military support. … I said, let’s start now and do it over the next decade, over the next ten years, but I want to start now. I don’t want to wait for the next Congress. I want to start now,” Netanyahu said.