Netanyahu, Rubio Reaffirm U.S.-Israel Commitment to Counter Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met in Jerusalem on Sunday, reaffirming their joint commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and countering its influence in the Middle East.

Following the meeting, Netanyahu described their discussion as “very productive”, emphasizing that Iran remains the most pressing security threat to both Israel and the region.

“Israel and America stand shoulder to shoulder in countering the threat of Iran,” Netanyahu stated. “We agreed that the ayatollahs must not have nuclear weapons and also agreed that Iran’s aggression in the region must be rolled back.”

Rubio echoed these concerns, stating that Iran was the driving force behind instability in the Middle East. “Behind every terrorist group, behind every act of violence, behind every destabilizing activity, behind everything that threatens peace and stability for the millions of people that call this region home is Iran,” he said.

Israel’s Military Operations Against Iranian Proxies

Netanyahu highlighted Israel’s recent military actions aimed at weakening Iranian-backed groups, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and various factions in Syria. He credited Israel with preventing the formation of new Iranian-backed military fronts against the country.

“We have dealt a mighty blow to Iran over the past 16 months,” Netanyahu said, referencing the ongoing war in Gaza against Hamas. “With the support of [President Donald] Trump, I have no doubt we can and will finish the job.”

He warned that any attempts to use Syria as a staging ground for attacks against Israel would not be tolerated, adding that hundreds of Iranian-linked targets in Syria had already been struck by Israeli forces.

U.S.-Israel Cooperation in Gaza

Netanyahu also praised Trump’s administration for its unwavering support of Israel’s military strategy in Gaza, where a fragile ceasefire remains in place after 15 months of war.

“I want to assure everyone who’s now listening to us, President Trump and I are working in full cooperation and coordination between us,” he said.

Rubio underscored the need to eliminate Hamas as both a military and governing force, asserting that peace would be impossible as long as the group retained power.

“Hamas cannot continue as a military or government force,” Rubio stated. “As long as it stands as a force that can govern, administer, or threaten through violence, peace becomes impossible.”

The meeting in Jerusalem comes as tensions remain high across the region, with continued concerns over Iran’s regional ambitions and the long-term security of Israel.