Netanyahu said the US deal with Iran would require the dismantling of the nuclear infrastructure

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told US President Donald Trump on Sunday (Feb 15, 2026) that any US deal with Iran must include the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure as well as halting the enrichment process.

Speaking at an annual conference of the presidents of major American Jewish organizations, Netanyahu said Israel must still complete the task of destroying all the tunnels in Gaza. Israel, he said, has already demolished 150 km (93 miles) of the estimated 500 km.

The second round of talks between America and Iran will be held this week. Iran is pursuing a nuclear deal with the US that will bring economic benefits to both sides, an Iranian diplomat was reported to have said on Sunday (Feb 15, 2026).

Mr Netanyahu said he was skeptical of a deal, but said it would have to include enriched material leaving Iran. “There will be no ability to enrich – not to stop the enrichment process, but to dismantle the equipment and infrastructure that allows you to enrich in the first place,” he said.

Iran and the US renewed talks earlier this month to resolve a decades-old dispute over Tehran’s nuclear program and avoid a new military confrontation. The US has sent a second aircraft carrier to the region and is preparing for a sustained military campaign if talks fail, US officials said. Reuters.

Mr Netanyahu has said he aims to end US military aid to Israel within the next 10 years, after the current 10-year deal – which receives $3.8 billion a year – mostly spent on equipment in the United States – expires in 2028.

Because of the growing economy, “we can gradually reduce the financial component of the military aid we receive, and I propose a 10-year drawdown to zero. Now, we can reduce it to zero in the three years of the current memorandum of understanding and in the next seven years,” Mr. Netanyahu said.

“We want to move from aid to partnership with the United States,” he said.