Netanyahu Defends Iran War, Praises Trump at UN
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has defended Israel’s military campaign against Iran during a combative address to the UN General Assembly, praising US President Donald Trump as Israel’s strongest partner while dozens of delegates walked out in protest.
Netanyahu Defends Israel-Iran War at UNGA
Netanyahu said the decision to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities had been difficult militarily but straightforward from a security perspective, arguing that Israel faced an existential threat from Tehran.
He credited close US-Israel cooperation with weakening Iran’s nuclear capabilities and said the two countries had acted together to protect their national security.
Iran maintains that its nuclear programme is peaceful and has accused Israel and the United States of unlawful aggression.
Netanyahu Praises Trump as Israel’s Key Partner
Netanyahu strongly praised Trump’s support during the conflict, saying Israel had “no greater partner” than the US president.
He thanked Trump for what he described as bold leadership in confronting Iran and presented the American-Israeli partnership as central to Israel’s military strategy.
The Israeli leader also defended his government’s actions in Gaza and rejected allegations that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians.
Delegates Walk Out During Netanyahu Speech
Dozens of delegates left the General Assembly chamber as Netanyahu approached the podium. He responded by describing those participating in the walkout as “moral cowards”.
Netanyahu also criticised Qatar and Türkiye, accusing them of supporting narratives hostile to Israel. He attacked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, both outspoken critics of Israeli policy.
The address reflected continuing international divisions over Israel’s wars in Gaza and Iran and its broader security policies across West Asia.
