Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives a press conference in Jerusalem on March 19, 2026. RONEN ZVULUN / AFP
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday, March 19, that Iran is being "decimated" and it is unclear who is in charge, even as the Islamic Republic kept up attacks on Gulf oil and gas targets that have jolted global markets. Nearly three weeks into the Middle East war launched by Israel and the United States, Netanyahu said Tehran no longer has the capacity to enrich uranium or manufacture ballistic missiles.
"We are winning and Iran is being decimated," he said at a press conference.
Meanwhile, the European Union, following a meeting of the bloc's leaders in Brussels, called for a "moratorium" on strikes against energy and water facilities. "The European Council calls for de-escalation and maximum restraint, the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure and full respect of international law by all parties."
Netanyahu hailed his cooperation with US President Donald Trump and said, without providing a specific timeframe, that he sees "this war ending a lot faster than people think."
