In first comment on emerging Iran deal, Netanyahu says Trump assured him nuclear program will be fully dismantled

In his first public response to the emerging deal between the US and Iran, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he received assurances from US President Donald Trump last night that Iran’s nuclear program will be fully dismantled and that Israel will retain freedom of action against military threats with any agreement.

“I spoke last night with [Trump] about the memorandum of understanding to reopen the Straits of Hormuz and the upcoming negotiations toward a final agreement on Iran’s nuclear program,” Netanyahu says in a statement on X, saying the leaders “agreed that any final agreement with Iran must eliminate the nuclear danger.”

“That means dismantling Iran’s nuclear enrichment sites and removing its enriched nuclear material from its territory,” Netanyahu continues, though it is unclear that Trump assured him specifically about those terms.

“President Trump also reaffirmed Israel’s right to defend itself against threats on every front, including Lebanon,” the premier adds.

Iran has reportedly refused to address the nuclear issue in the MoU to be potentially signed, and is only open to discussing it during talks on a final agreement. The initial 60-day ceasefire to be reached was reportedly said by US and Iranian officials to include a ceasefire with Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon

Netanyahu adds that he thanked Trump “for his unwavering commitment to Israel’s security.”

I spoke last night with President @realDonaldTrump about the memorandum of understanding to reopen the Straits of Hormuz and the upcoming negotiations toward a final agreement on Iran’s nuclear program.

I expressed my deep appreciation to President Trump for his unwavering…

— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) May 24, 2026