Netanyahu Declares ‘Historic Victory’ Over Iran as Ceasefire Holds; Trump Urges End to Military Action, UN Calls for Lasting Peace
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, June 25, 2025, proclaimed that Israel had achieved a “historic” and “generational” victory following a grueling 12-day military confrontation with Iran.
In a nationally broadcast video statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office, Netanyahu said that the recent strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure marked a turning point in the region’s geopolitical landscape and that the operation’s success would resonate for decades to come.
The Prime Minister emphasized that while the current round of hostilities may have concluded with a ceasefire, Israel’s broader strategic objectives remain unfinished.
“We have achieved a historic triumph that will echo for generations,” Netanyahu declared. “But our mission is not yet complete. We must dismantle the Iranian axis of terror, defeat Hamas decisively, and bring home every one of our hostages held in Gaza.”
Netanyahu’s remarks came just hours after both Israel and Iran agreed to a ceasefire brokered with quiet diplomatic assistance from international partners, including the United States.
The ceasefire halted a rapid cycle of escalating airstrikes and ballistic missile attacks that had brought both countries to the brink of a full-scale regional war.
In a defiant tone, Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s commitment to preventing Iran from ever acquiring nuclear weapons. “We have thwarted Iran’s nuclear project,” he said.
“If the regime in Tehran dares to try rebuilding what we dismantled, we will respond with the same force, with the same intensity, and with the same resolve. Iran will not have a nuclear weapon—not now, not ever.”
Despite the high-stakes rhetoric and dramatic imagery of military triumph, behind the scenes, a different tone was taking shape.
According to a senior White House official speaking on condition of anonymity, U.S. President Donald Trump has privately conveyed to Prime Minister Netanyahu that the United States will not engage in further offensive military action against Iran at this stage.
The official, who was not authorized to speak publicly, noted that after the U.S. carried out precision strikes on three major Iranian nuclear sites on Sunday, June 22, President Trump urged Netanyahu to de-escalate the situation and shift toward diplomacy.
“The President made it clear to Netanyahu that the time had come to halt military operations and pursue a negotiated path forward,” the official said. “President Trump believes the imminent threat has been neutralized, and there is no appetite in Washington for extended military involvement.”
While Trump has publicly celebrated the strikes as a major strategic success, sources indicate that he also made it clear to the Israeli leadership that the U.S. has no intention of sustaining long-term offensive operations in the region.
Netanyahu, according to the official, expressed understanding of Trump’s position and did not press for additional American strikes.
On the domestic front, Israel’s military announced on Tuesday that it would begin lifting nationwide restrictions that had been imposed during the height of the conflict.
These restrictions included limitations on public gatherings, school closures, and the partial shutdown of workplaces. “Following a comprehensive situational assessment and with the approval of Defence Minister Israel Katz, we are moving to restore full civilian activity across the country,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement.
The changes took effect at 8:00 p.m. local time on Tuesday and are expected to remain in place at least until Thursday evening, June 26.
The lifting of wartime restrictions signaled cautious optimism that the ceasefire would hold, though military officials stressed that security forces remain on high alert should hostilities resume.
In a related development, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres issued a strong appeal to both Iran and Israel to respect the terms of the fragile ceasefire.
In a post on social media platform X, Guterres wrote, “The fighting must stop. The people of both countries have already endured too much suffering. I call on all parties to respect the ceasefire and refrain from further escalation.”
The Secretary-General also expressed hope that the truce could serve as a model for peace in other conflict zones, notably the ongoing war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.
“The momentum created by this ceasefire should be seized to pursue broader regional de-escalation,” he added.
While the guns have fallen silent for now, the days ahead will test the durability of the ceasefire and the willingness of all parties to pursue diplomatic solutions in a region scarred by deep mistrust and decades of enmity.
