Israel and the United States are determined to jointly thwart Iran's nuclear ambitions and Tehran's aggression in the Middle East, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said today, quoted by Reuters and BTA.
At a joint press conference with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio after their meeting in Jerusalem, the Israeli prime minister said that the two had a very productive discussion on a number of topics, but none was more important than Iran.
"Israel and America stand shoulder to shoulder in the fight against the threat from Iran. We agreed that the ayatollahs should not possess nuclear weapons. We also agreed that Iran's aggression in the region must be stopped," Netanyahu said.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Iran is behind every terrorist group, behind every act of violence and behind every destabilizing activity.
"Behind everything that threatens the peace and stability of the millions of people who call this region home, Iran is behind it," Rubio said.
For his part, Netanyahu stressed that over the past 16 months since the start of the war against "Hamas" in Gaza, Israel has dealt a powerful blow to Iran. The Israeli prime minister also indicated that with Trump's support he has no doubt that he will be able to finish his job.
He noted that Israel has weakened the Iranian-backed movement "Hezbollah" in southern Lebanon and has struck hundreds of targets in Syria to prevent the opening of a new Iranian-backed front against Israel.
"Anyone who thinks that Israel will allow hostile forces to use Syria as a base for operations against us is deeply mistaken," Netanyahu also said.
He thanked Rubio for his "unequivocal support" for Israel's policy on the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli prime minister also said that Israel and the United States, under the leadership of Donald Trump, share a common strategy for the enclave.
"I want to assure everyone listening now that President Trump and I are working in full cooperation and coordination with each other," Netanyahu said.
"Hamas" cannot continue to exist as a military or governmental force. Peace is impossible as long as "Hamas" "It exists as a ruling power and an administration, or as a power that can threaten to use violence," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.
Israel will do "whatever it takes" to ensure that the ceasefire in Lebanon is respected, Benjamin Netanyahu said, quoted by Agence France-Presse.
"Hezbollah" must be disarmed and Israel would prefer the Lebanese army to do that, but no one should doubt that Israel will do what is necessary to ensure that the ceasefire agreement is respected and to protect its security," he said, adding that the recent attack on a UN convoy in Beirut was not an encouraging sign.
Netanyahu threatened to open the "gates of hell" in Gaza if all hostages are not released.
"We have a common strategy with the United States, the details of which we cannot reveal to the public. But the gates of hell will certainly open if all our hostages are not released, without exception,“ Netanyahu said, using a phrase recently uttered by US President Donald Trump regarding the enclave.