Israel Threatens to Act Alone Against Iran, Ben-Gvir Calls US Naive

Israel has signalled it is prepared to act alone against Iran, even as the United States pushes for a peaceful path with Tehran. Israel’s National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, went so far as to call the US ‘very naive’ if it believes Iran will halt its nuclear programme. ‘America is very naive if they think Iran will abandon its nuclear programme and cancel it, and give up their dreams of destroying Israel,’ Ben-Gvir said in an interview with Israeli television, reported by detikNews on Wednesday (24/6/2026). Ben-Gvir stressed that Israel cannot entrust its national security to another party, including its closest ally. ‘It is Israel’s responsibility to confront this Iranian threat and act alone against it,’ he asserted. The statement emerged amid differing stances between Washington and Tel Aviv regarding the approach to Iran. Recent disputes have also surfaced over Israeli strikes in Lebanon, which are claimed to target Hezbollah, while the US and Iran are engaged in negotiations aimed at achieving long-term peace. The hardline minister, known for his controversial views, also emphasised that no circumstances could compel Israel to follow the directives of another country. The minister said that ‘there are no circumstances’ that could force Israel to work ‘according to the orders of a friend, even if that friend is truly great’. The US and Israel have long accused Iran of pursuing a nuclear and missile programme deemed threatening to Israel and regional countries allied with Washington. However, Tehran has repeatedly stressed that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes and is not intended to develop nuclear weapons or threaten other nations. Tensions between Iran and the US and Israel previously peaked after the two countries launched a large-scale attack against Tehran on 28 February. That attack triggered a series of Iranian retaliatory strikes targeting Israel and US military assets in several Middle Eastern countries. The fighting subsequently subsided after a Pakistan-mediated ceasefire took effect on 8 April. Nevertheless, various tit-for-tat actions continued to mark the ceasefire period before an initial peace agreement was finally reached in June. As part of the peace efforts, US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian electronically signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on 17 June. The document is intended as a foundation towards a permanent peace deal between the two countries.