Israel crossed halfway point to reach its war goals in Iran, says PM Netanyahu

The United States and Israel are “halfway” toward success in the war against the Iranian regime, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Newsmax in a rare interview.

Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. President Donald Trump is considering ending military operations in the Strait of Hormuz, with the waterway still closed, among a range of options that also include a ground invasion of islands in the waterway.

Netanyahu said, “We’re beyond the halfway point in terms of mission success,” in an interview with Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy in Jerusalem on Monday.

He noted the progress in destroying Iran’s military, nuclear, and industrial capabilities.

⭕️24 HOUR RECAP: 150+ fighter jets have used 120+ munitions in strikes on infrastructure sites in Tehran

Targets included:
• A site for the development of critical components for ballistic missiles
• A site used by the IRGC’s military industries for the research and… pic.twitter.com/Q9wPhJjWLN

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 29, 2026

“We’ve already degraded their missile capabilities, destroyed factories, and eliminated key nuclear scientists,” he said, adding that the campaign has set back Iran’s ambitions significantly.

The central goal of the operation remains to prevent the regime from acquiring nuclear weapons, as well as the means to deliver them, namely, long-range ballistic missiles.

“That’s what this war is about – preventing that outcome,” Netanyahu said. For now, the main way to this is securing the stockpile of enriched uranium left under the rubble of several bombed Iranian nuclear sites, he explained, noting that Trump has mentioned the possibility of removing the material under international supervision.

U.S. forces continue to eliminate the Iranian regime's ability to project power in meaningful ways outside of Iran's borders. pic.twitter.com/R2T0F9JOrY

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 30, 2026

Media reports also suggest the U.S. president is considering a potentially risky ground operation to secure the stockpile.

Netanyahu stressed that the momentum remains in favor of Israel and the United States, but declined to give a clear timeline of when the war is going to end. “Iran is coming out weaker; we’re coming out stronger,” he asserted.

Meanwhile, the WSJ reported that Trump and his aides estimate that a ground operation to open up the Hormuz Strait would stretch the operation by several more weeks.

Officials told the outlet that the president decided to focus on the main goals of degrading the Iranian military for now, before shifting focus onto diplomatic pressure to open the strait – potentially ending the military campaign with the strait still closed.

“The United States of America is in serious discussions with A NEW, AND MORE REASONABLE, REGIME to end our Military Operations in Iran.” - President Donald J. Trump 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/0MWL2hSNmK

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 30, 2026

However, on Monday, Trump posted on Truth Social that he is in discussions with “a new and more reasonable regime” to end the war, noting that “great progress” was made.

But he also threatened that if no deal is made and if the strait will not be immediately “open for business,” the U.S. military would conclude its “lovely ‘stay’ in Iran by blowing up and completely obliterating all of their Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island (and possibly all desalinization plants!).”

“This will be in retribution for our many soldiers, and others, that Iran has butchered and killed over the old Regime’s 47-year ‘Reign of Terror,’” he added.

The WSJ said if the strait remains closed, Washington would seek to convince allies in Europe and the Gulf to take responsibility for the waterway, which is much more critical to their economies.

USS Tripoli (LHA 7) sails in the Indian Ocean, March 29. The amphibious assault ship is named after the Battle of Derna, which took place during the First Barbary War in 1805. pic.twitter.com/9JAoP1K1bP

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 31, 2026

The Hormuz Strait usually carries around one-fifth of global oil and gas exports. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, in 2024, 84% of crude oil and 83% of liquid natural gas transported through Hormuz were bound for Asian markets.

The newspaper also noted that military options are still being considered, but are not the top priority.

However, thousands of U.S. Marines and Army troops are still deploying to the region. The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit arrived over the weekend, another unit is reportedly en route, elements of the 82nd Airborne Division have received deployment orders, and the WSJ reported that the Pentagon is considering sending up to 10,000 additional ground troops to expand its options.