Netanyahu says ‘Israel’ stands “in solidarity” with Iranians

• Solidarity with Protests: Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed ‘Israel's’ support for the Iranian people amid widespread anti-government protests over economic decay, suggesting the movement could be a pivotal moment for Iranians to "take their destiny into their own hands."
• Nuclear Redlines: Following a 12-day war in June 2025, Netanyahu reaffirmed a joint policy with President Trump focused on "zero enrichment" and the removal of 400 kilograms of enriched material to prevent Iran from rebuilding its crippled nuclear infrastructure.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that ‘Israel’ stood in solidarity with the people of Iran as protests rocked several cities in the Islamic republic this week.

"We stand in solidarity with the struggle of the Iranian people and with their aspirations for freedom, liberty and justice," Netanyahu said at the weekly cabinet meeting.

"It is very possible that we are standing at a moment when the Iranian people are taking their destiny into their own hands," he said, according to a statement issued by his office.

Protests began last Sunday in Tehran over rising living costs and economic deterioration, before spreading to include political demands and other regions.

Clashes between demonstrators and security forces have so far left at least 12 people dead, including security personnel, according to reports by Iranian state media.

Iran and ‘Israel’ fought a 12-day war last year after ‘Israel’ launched a wave of strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and residential areas, saying the attacks aimed to undermine the Islamic Republic’s nuclear and missile capabilities.

Iran responded with drone and rocket strikes against ‘Israel’.

Later, the United States briefly joined ‘Israel’ in targeting Iranian nuclear sites before a ceasefire was announced.

On Sunday, Netanyahu addressed Iran’s nuclear program, saying he discussed the matter with US President Donald Trump during his official visit this week.

“We renewed our shared position based on the principle of zero enrichment on the one hand, and the need to remove 400 kilograms of enriched material from Iran, and to place the sites under strict and genuine supervision,” he said, noting the talks took place at the outset of the demonstrations in Iran.

The protests have affected, to varying degrees, at least 40 different cities - mostly medium-sized towns in western and southwestern Iran - according to a tally based on official data and media reports.