For 3 decades, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed Iran months away from nuclear weapons

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned of Iran’s nuclear ambitions for nearly three decades. His claims, dating back to the mid-1990s, culminated in June 2025 airstrikes on Tehran’s military and nuclear facilities, including the Natanz nuclear facility.Despite decades of similar alerts, this marked the full-scale operation to prevent what Netanyahu called an ‘imminent nuclear threat’.

According to a report in The Independent, Iran

said the primary underground enrichment halls at the Natanz site were undamaged. In retaliation, Tehran launched over 100 drones toward Israeli territory, raising fears of a broader conflict.
Here’s a timeline of times Netanyahu warned about Iran’s nuclear ambitions:Early warnings on Iranian nuclear weapons by Netanyahu

The Israeli PM first raised concerns over Iran’s nuclear capabilities during his first term as Prime Minister in 1996. He warned that Iran was pursuing nuclear weapons and could pose a significant threat to Israel and regional stability, according to media reports.

Throughout the early 2000s, he continued to advocate for international action against Iran, arguing that its nuclear program was a direct threat to Israel’s existence. Netanyahu urged pre-emptive international measures, arguing that Iran could not be trusted with nuclear technology.

2012: The Red Line address at the UN

In one of his addresses, Netanyahu held up a cartoon bomb at the United Nations General Assembly in 2012. He visually drew a red line to warn the world of Iran’s potential to enrich uranium to weapons-grade levels. He insisted global powers must intervene before the nation crosses that threshold.

2015: Strong opposition to the JCPOA

Netanyahu strongly opposed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the nuclear deal made with Iran and world powers in 2015. He believed it would only delay Iran’s nuclear goals while freeing up funds that could be used for military activities and support for its allies.

2020–2024: Renewed rhetoric amid rising tensions

Between 2020 and 2024, Netanyahu claimed that Iran was getting closer to making nuclear weapons. Even though the UN’s nuclear weapon watchdog—International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)—and US intelligence found no conclusive evidence of a weapons programme, Netanyahu insisted Israel had superior intelligence and would act unilaterally if necessary.