Jerusalem, 11 April, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that Iran’s leadership was “begging for a ceasefire” after Israeli and U.S. strikes, and claimed Lebanon had approached Israel last month to hold direct negotiations, describing both developments as a result of Israeli military pressure.
Speaking in a video statement after the ceasefire with Iran, Netanyahu said Israel had achieved “tremendous” results in the campaign and asserted that the Iranian nuclear program had been severely damaged. He said Israel had targeted nuclear facilities and killed a number of Iranian nuclear scientists, adding that Iran no longer had an active enrichment plant.
“The Iranian regime is begging for a ceasefire,” Netanyahu said, adding that there were internal divisions in Tehran’s leadership. He also said Iran’s missile stockpile was being gradually depleted.
Netanyahu further said Lebanon had contacted him last month to seek direct negotiations with Israel, which he described as unprecedented. He said he had approved such contacts on condition of Hezbollah’s disarmament and a “real peace agreement.”
The prime minister said Israel had emerged from the confrontation stronger, calling the country “the strongest regional power and even a world power.” He added that “many other countries” were now seeking closer ties with Israel. He also said Iran still possessed enriched material, but added that it would be removed either through an agreement or “by other means.”
The statement came as Israel sought to frame the outcome of the fighting with Iran as a major strategic victory, with Netanyahu portraying the campaign as a turning point in the regional balance of power.