Netanyahu: Iran challenge not over despite US sanctions

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that the challenge posed by Iran is far from resolved, even as he welcomed new American sanctions targeting Tehran and its business partners.

Speaking at an event in Jerusalem celebrating settlements in the occupied West Bank, Netanyahu described the latest US action as a significant step in tightening the economic noose around Iran.

"What President Trump did yesterday was to tighten the siege on Iran not only by tightening the siege on Iran itself, but by tightening the siege on those who aid this regime, this terrible dictatorship," Netanyahu said.

The comments came after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a fresh round of sanctions on Monday, warning that any country maintaining financial ties with Iran would face retaliation from Washington. The move follows Trump's pledge of an "economic D-Day" against Tehran.

Netanyahu acknowledged that despite these measures, significant work remains. "The Iran challenge is not yet over," he said, adding that Israel is equally determined to address threats from Gaza, Lebanon, and other arenas.

The prime minister also reflected on Israel's settlement enterprise, noting that 160 farms and 104 settlements have been established with support from both the previous and current American administrations. "This is our land, and it will remain ours forever," he declared.

The US has struggled to find an off-ramp nearly six months into a costly conflict with Iran. With weapons stockpiles reportedly running low, Washington appears to be pivoting toward economic warfare, though Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has not ruled out resuming military strikes.

Monday's sanctions announcement provided few specifics, leaving unclear which countries might face secondary penalties. China, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates remain Iran's largest trading partners.