Netanyahu Calls for Nuclear Dismantling as Trump Rejects Iran Peace Proposal

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump stated on May 10, 2026, that the war with Iran is not over, contradicting earlier administration claims that the conflict had run its course. In a CBS News interview, Netanyahu asserted that victory requires the removal of enriched uranium and the dismantling of enrichment sites. He claimed Trump privately expressed a desire to enter Iran to secure these materials, though Trump publicly maintains that Iran is already militarily defeated and its nuclear sites are well-surveilled by the Space Force.

Diplomatic efforts remain strained as Trump labeled Iran's recent response to a 14-point peace proposal "TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!" Meanwhile, Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and military commander Ali Abdollahi warned that Iran's armed forces are ready to respond to any American or Israeli actions with a "swift, severe, and decisive" reaction.

Netanyahu also announced a strategic shift to phase out $3.8 billion in annual U.S. military aid over the next decade to increase Israeli self-reliance. He attributed declining U.S. public support for Israel to social media manipulation by foreign governments, which he termed the "eighth front" of the war. Separately, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam expressed openness to a peace agreement provided there is a clear agenda for Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese villages, though Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has rejected a high-level summit with Netanyahu until hostilities cease.