Israel's defense minister on Tuesday called the Islamic Republic "the greatest threat to the future of the world", calling on the US to prevent it from acquiring a nuclear weapon before it gets too late.
"The greatest threat to the future of the world is Iran," Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said in a press conference with his American counterpart Lloyd Austin in Washington DC.
"And time is running out. Now is the time to materialize the commitment of US admin over the years - the promise to prevent Iran, from possessing nuclear weapons," he said.
His comments came one day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Islamic Republic is working on all front to destroy Israel, but the Jewish state will thwart its intentions "at any cost".
Netanyahu said on Monday that Tehran is actively working on multiple fronts to destroy Israel, highlighting the ongoing threat posed by Iranian proxy groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.
“At any cost and in any way, we will thwart Iran's intentions to destroy us,” the Israeli prime minister told the Knesset. He described the situation as an "existential war on seven fronts," asserting that Iran is openly attempting to annihilate Israel.
Iran has long been a key supporter of both Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, providing financial aid, weapons, and training to these groups.
On October 7, Iran-backed Hamas fighters launched an attack on Israel, resulting in the deaths of over 1,200 people. In response, the Israeli military has initiated an operation in Gaza aimed at dismantling the Palestinian militant group.
Israel is also on the verge of a full-blown conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon, another Iranian proxy, which has intensified its attacks on northern Israel in solidarity with Hamas fighters.
Gallant's trip to Washington DC comes shortly after the top US general warned that any Israeli offensive in Lebanon would risk a broader conflict that draws in Iran and its proxies, particularly if Hezbollah's existence is threatened.
