From the Liveblog of
Sunday, June 22, 2025
PM: Israel has ‘interesting intel’ on whereabouts of Iran’s 60% enriched uranium
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleLazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Israel has “interesting intel” on the whereabouts of Iran’s 400 kilograms of 60 percent enriched uranium, says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a prerecorded press conference, but does not go into detail.
Israel “had to act” against Iran because Tehran was rushing toward nuclear weaponization after the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in September 2024, says Netanyahu.
He also cites Iran’s plan to build 300 ballistic missiles a month.
Netanyahu shared his concern with US President Donald Trump, he says: “I told him of our need to act, and he understood it very well. And I knew that when push comes to shove, he would do the right thing. He would do the right thing for America. He would do the right thing for the free world. He would do the right thing for civilization.”
Turning to the war in Gaza, he says it “could end tomorrow. It could end today if Hamas surrenders, lays down all its arms, release all the hostages. It’s over in a moment.”
“We think we can give Gaza a different future,” he says.
“I have a plan for a permanent peace,” Netanyahu insists, adding that “we’re prepared to go into negotiations right now on the proposal that Mr. Witkoff gave.”
He says the contacts with mediators are continuing, and Israel is trying to get Hamas to agree to a 60-day ceasefire during which half the hostages are released.
The Times of Israel Community.