In brief
Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Sunday that Israel's mission against Iran is still not complete, re‑emphasising claims that Tehran is seeking nuclear weapons. The statement, made at a memorial ceremony in Jerusalem, came amid a political shift as opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot seeks to form a new government. The International Atomic Energy Agency has not found evidence of Iranian nuclear activity, but access remains limited.
Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Sunday that Israel's mission against Iran is still not complete, stating the Kurdish war‑zone threat remains real and that the country will not withdraw from its positions in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria.
Katz made the remarks at a memorial ceremony in Jerusalem and warned that if Hezbollah aided Iran with a strike on Israel, the group would face severe retaliation. He reiterated the allegation that Tehran is pursuing a nuclear weapons programme, a claim Israel denies exposing no evidence to back the assertion.
"Israel cannot accept these threats," Katz said, noting that the country is "more determined than ever" to pre‑empt Iranian threats and adopt a proactive and offensive policy toward its enemies. He urged Israelis to unite ahead of the major tasks that remain at stake for national security.
The statement came as opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot seeks to form a new government after the elections left Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right‑wing bloc without a parliamentary majority.
According to a United Nations nuclear watchdog report, International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi said no evidence of Iranian efforts to repair or rebuild facilities damaged by United States and Israeli strikes in 2025 and 2026 has been found; inspectors report limited access prevents full verification of Iran's nuclear activities.
