Netanyahu says Iranian people will be free one day, as Israel-Iran tensions stay high
Netanyahu's comments come as US-Iran talks over the Strait of Hormuz remain stalled and Brent crude trades near $105 a barrel
Published
Map: The Gulf and Hormuz, marking Strait of Hormuz
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that despite what he calls silence and hypocrisy, it is only a matter of time before change comes to Iran. He said the power of the people will overcome those in power, and that the Iranian people will one day be free.
The comments follow other recent remarks from Netanyahu. He has held up a pager, a reference to Israel's attack on Hezbollah devices, and said Israel has "no other choice" but to win. An Israeli source has said new strikes on Iran are a matter of time, and that Israel will hit Iranian nuclear sites again if Tehran crosses red lines.
Talks between the US and Iran remain stalled. People familiar with the discussions say Washington and Tehran are considering a phased plan to lift the US blockade and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but an Israeli official says the chance of a deal is small. During a state visit to Washington, Xi Jinping said China backs a return to the Islamabad memorandum of understanding and that he hopes the US and Iran can reach agreement on the nuclear issue.
Iran's aviation isolation has deepened. The UAE's Civil Aviation Authority has suspended flights by Iranian airlines to and from the UAE, and the US Treasury has said 80 to 90% of Iran's external flights are already grounded. Brent crude is trading at $105.38 a barrel. Netanyahu's language suggests Israel sees little prospect for a negotiated resolution and may see military action as more likely than talks, a stance that keeps geopolitical risk priced into oil and volatility elevated across equity markets.