Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated warnings about Iran’s long range ballistic missile and nuclear capabilities, saying Tehran’s expanding weapons programs could eventually pose a direct threat to the United States if left unchecked.
Netanyahu has argued that Iran’s missile developments are more than just a regional danger and believes they might one day enable Tehran to reach U.S. territory. In a public interview last year, he said Iran was developing intercontinental ballistic missiles with a range capable of striking U.S. cities, warning that Tehran could “put New York City, Boston, Washington or Miami under their atomic guns.”
While those comments reflected broader concerns about Iran’s ambitions, they underscore Israel’s and its allies’ view of the Iranian threat.
The issue has figured prominently in U.S. Israel discussions on nuclear diplomacy. Israeli leaders have been pushing for stringent negotiations and limitations on Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, arguing that insufficient constraints could leave both Israel and the United States more vulnerable to future threats.
Iran, for its part, maintains its nuclear work is for peaceful purposes and insists it will not negotiate under threats, even as it faces heightened pressure from the U.S. and allies.
The warnings come amid ongoing talks in Oman and elsewhere, where diplomats seek to revive negotiations aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear activities and addressing broader security concerns in the Middle East.
