Benjamin Netanyahu Says War With Iran Not Over Until Enriched Uranium Removed

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war with Iran is "not over" until highly enriched uranium is removed from Iran and the country's enrichment facilities are dismantled.

“President Donald Trump has warned that the United States will target any Iranian trying to reach the country’s highly enriched uranium, saying that the nuclear material is under constant surveillance by the US military”

Al Jazeera

In an interview with CBS News chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett, Netanyahu said, "You go in, and you take it out," describing a potential removal approach.

Al Jazeera

Netanyahu said, "Now, we've degraded a lot of it," referring to Iran's nuclear capabilities, proxy forces in other countries, and missile-making capacity, but added that "all that is still there, and there's work to be done."

International monitors estimate that Iran still has about 970 pounds of nearly bomb-grade uranium.

The comments came as Iranian state media said Tehran submitted its response to the latest U.S. ceasefire proposal through Pakistani mediators, with Tehran seeking to shift negotiations toward ending the war across all fronts, especially Lebanon.

U.S. President Donald Trump branded Iran's response to Washington's latest peace proposal "totally unacceptable," raising the likelihood of renewed conflict after weeks of negotiations.

Trump said on Truth Social, "I have just read the response from Iran's so-called 'Representatives.' I don't like it -- TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!"

Arab News

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told X, "We will never bow down to the enemy, and if there is talk of dialogue or negotiation, it does not mean surrender or retreat," as Tehran warned it would not hold back from retaliating against any new U.S. strikes.

The back-and-forth unfolded as the fragile ceasefire was being tested in the Gulf, with the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center saying a drone attack occurred 23 nautical miles northeast of Doha.

In the same period, the New Arab reported that Netanyahu insisted the conflict was not over until Iran's enriched uranium was removed and its nuclear facilities dismantled.

Trump warned that the United States will target any Iranian trying to reach the country's highly enriched uranium, saying the nuclear material is under constant surveillance by the U.S. military.

In the Full Measure interview, Trump said, "We have it surveilled," and added, "If anybody got near the place, we will know about it, and we'll blow them up."

Al Jazeera reported that Trump said the U.S. has achieved about 70% of the targets set in Iran and that the U.S. military could operate for another two weeks to strike all remaining targets.

The Al Jazeera report also said Trump warned that even if American forces leave today, Iran would need 20 years to rebuild its capabilities, while stressing that "military defeat does not mean their total destruction."

Meanwhile, the Jerusalem Post said an ISIS analysis of satellite imagery found Israel and the U.S. prioritized degradation of Iran's nuclear weaponization abilities during Operation Roaring Lion and Operation Epic Fury, targeting development sites rather than enrichment facilities already destroyed in June 2025 strikes.