Netanyahu says ‘superpowers need allies,’ warns Iran’s missile threat puts US under risk

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, taking an indirect dig at US President Donald Trump amid his shifting stance over the Gaza peace plan, said that “superpowers need allies” and that Israel remains a key partner in tackling shared threats like Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

In an interview, Netanyahu noted that even the strongest nations rely on alliances for security, technology, and intelligence. “America First doesn’t mean America alone, because all countries need allies. Superpowers need allies. China has allies. Russia has allies,” he said.

Marking two years since the Hamas attack on Israel, Netanyahu described his country as a “fighting ally that pulls its weight,” adding, “We don’t ask for Americans to bring boots on the ground. We’ve done the job of defending ourselves pretty well over the last 77 years.”

Speaking about Iran, the Israeli Prime Minister warned that Tehran’s push to build intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads poses a direct threat to the United States.

“Iran is developing ballistic missiles with an 8,000-kilometre range. Add another 3,000 kilometres, and they’ve got under their atomic guns New York City, Washington, Boston, Miami, Mar-a-Lago,” he said.

Netanyahu praised US President Donald Trump for taking a firm yet “judicious” stance against Iran’s nuclear ambitions without triggering a wider regional conflict.

“We had exactly the right alliance in which we shared the labour, and we achieved this neutralisation of Iran, which could blackmail every American city,” he said.

Netanyahu’s comments come amid rising tensions in the Middle East as Iran continues to advance its nuclear program, while the United States pursues diplomatic and economic measures to limit Tehran’s weapons ambitions.