Netanyahu says Iran strives for nuclear bomb 'stockpile' to destroy Israel

By AFP - Oct 28,2024 - Last updated at Oct 28,2024

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM — Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that Iran is seeking to develop a "stockpile" of nuclear bombs aimed at destroying Israel, two days after Israel bombed military targets in the Islamic republic.

On Saturday, Israel carried out air strikes on military sites in Iran in response to Tehran's October 1 attack, itself retaliation for the killing of Iran-backed militant leaders and a Revolutionary Guards commander.

"Iran is striving to develop a stockpile of nuclear bombs to destroy us, equipped with long-range missiles, intercontinental missiles that Iran is trying to develop," Netanyahu said.

"Iran could threaten the entire world at any point," Netanyahu added during a speech to lawmakers as Israel's parliament began its winter session.

"Stopping the Iranian nuclear programme is at the forefront of our minds, and for obvious reasons, I cannot share with you all our plans and actions in this regard."

The Iranian government has long denied that it is trying to build nuclear weapons and insists its programme is for peaceful purposes.

In recent years it has decreased its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, while significantly ramping up its nuclear programme, including amassing large stockpiles of enriched uranium.

But the head of the UN's nuclear watchdog said last week that Iran was showing "willingness" to re-engage on the nuclear issue.

Tehran, which supports Hamas, warned it would "respond firmly and effectively" to Israel's strikes at the weekend.

The war in Gaza has drawn in Tehran-backed allies of Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, including Hizbollah in Lebanon.

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