PM says those critiquing failure to strike Iran opposed past actions that delayed nuclear program

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists he remains committed to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, and attacks critics who have slammed the premier of late for failing to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities, who, Netanyahu claims, opposed actions he took against Iran in the past.

“I am committed to preventing Iran from attaining nuclear weapons. I won’t give up on this, I won’t let up on this, and I won’t withdraw from this — not a millimeter.”

“It is amusing to listen to the criticism of those who opposed the actions I took to harm and delay Iran’s nuclear program in the past, actions without which Iran would have had a nuclear weapon 10 years ago,” asserts Netanyahu in a video statement.

Last week, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid accused Netanyahu of scuttling opportunities to hit Iran, while former prime minister Naftali Bennett said Netanyahu has failed to follow through on threats against Tehran.

Their comments came against the background of a report that US President Donald Trump recently blocked an Israeli-proposed strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Trump later said he was in no rush to greenlight strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, and the US is now conducting negotiations with Iran on a new deal aimed at thwarting its nuclear ambitions.