Netanyahu Claims Iran’s Nuclear and Missile Capabilities Crippled After 20 Days of Strikes

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asserted that 20 days of strikes against Iran have significantly degraded the Islamic Republic’s ability to enrich uranium and produce ballistic missiles. The announcement came during a press conference on Thursday, March 19, 2026, amid the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.

Iran’s Diminished Capabilities

“Today, after 20 days, I can share you that Iran no longer has the ability to enrich uranium or produce ballistic missiles. We continue to destroy them. We will destroy them completely,” Netanyahu declared in his opening remarks, delivered in Hebrew. He later added, in English, that Iran’s missile and drone arsenals are “significantly depleted and will be destroyed.”

Netanyahu stated that hundreds of Iranian launchers have been destroyed, and its missile stockpile and production capacity have been heavily attacked. He described Iran as “weaker than ever” and positioned Israel as a regional, and potentially global, power, noting that the Middle East has been “changed beyond recognition.”

Strait of Hormuz and Past Campaigns

According to Netanyahu, Israel and the U.S. Are collaborating to open the Strait of Hormuz to free shipping, claiming Iran has lost its entire fleet in the Caspian Sea. He also referenced a previous Israeli campaign against Iran in June 2025, which focused on destroying missiles and nuclear facilities. “We are now destroying the factories that make the components for these missiles and the nuclear weapons they are trying to build. We’re destroying their industrial base in a way we’ve never done before,” he asserted according to CNBC.

Trump’s Stance and Potential for Ground Component

These claims come as President Donald Trump has stated he will not send U.S. Troops to the Middle East as reported by the Associated Press. Netanyahu, however, indicated that meaningful regime change in Iran would require a “ground component,” suggesting the Iranian people must “rise to the moment.” He acknowledged that a revolution cannot solely come from aerial attacks, but also refrained from detailing the potential forms of on-the-ground action.

Netanyahu Addresses Leadership Vacuum

During a press conference, his first with foreign media since the start of the conflict 20 days prior, Netanyahu acknowledged a leadership vacuum within Iran. He stated that Israel does not know who is currently in charge in Tehran, noting that Mojtaba Khamenei, appointed as the latest supreme leader, has “not shown his face” according to Times Now. He also observed “a lot of tension” among senior regime officials and cracks appearing in both the political leadership and military units.

Comparison to Historical Figures

Netanyahu drew a comparison between the current situation and historical conflicts, stating, “You don’t seek to replace one ayatollah with another. You don’t want to replace Hitler with Hitler.”