Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a press conference on May 12, 2025, where he stated that recent Israeli military operations have succeeded in killing important high-ranking Iranian nuclear scientists. This announcement was framed within the broader context of Israel’s ongoing conflict with Iran, indicating that Israel is taking aggressive measures to thwart Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Netanyahu’s comments mark his first press briefing since the onset of the current war, underlining the urgency and gravity of the situation as viewed from Israel.

In his remarks, Netanyahu described the current Iranian leadership, specifically mentioning Mojtaba Khamenei, as a "puppet of the Revolutionary Guard," suggesting a significant shift in Iran’s political landscape following the onset of hostilities. The Prime Minister asserted that the dynamics within Iran have fundamentally changed due to the conflict, indicating that the Iranian regime is under pressure and its leaders are losing their capacity to operate openly. He emphasized the importance of these military operations in preserving Israel's national security and deterring Iranian aggression in the region.

Netanyahu further escalated his rhetoric by cautioning against the Iranian leadership and Hezbollah's Naim Qassem, suggesting that their days are numbered and implying direct threats against them. The statement that he wouldn't bet on their lives underscores the high stakes involved in this confrontation. Collectively, these developments reveal the intensifying conflict in the Middle East, sparking concerns over future escalations and possible retaliations from Iran and its allies in the region, underscoring the precarious state of security in Israel and its neighboring countries.