STORY: Israel will welcome an Iran nuclear deal that would ban uranium enrichment, but in any case will retain its right to defend itself, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a news conference in Jerusalem on Wednesday (May 21).

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected U.S. demands to halt uranium enrichment as “excessive and outrageous”, warning that the talks are unlikely to yield results.

A fifth round of talks aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear program in return for sanctions relief will be held will take place in Rome on Friday May 23.

In a live broadcast of his press conefernce, Netanyahu replied to reported tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration, saying the two countries continue to work in coordination and share interests.

He also referred to Trump's Middle East visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, saying deepening ties with the Arab world will help expand the Abraham Accords.

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VIDEO SHOWS: ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SPEAKING IN PRESS CONFERENCE

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SHOWS: JERUSALEM (MAY 21, 2025) (ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE - Access all)

1. ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SPEAKING AT PRESS CONFERENCE

2. (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYING:

"Iran remains a very serious threat to Israel. We are of course in full coordination with the United States, we are talking to them all the time, and we hope that if they can reach an agreement that will prevent Iran from having a nuclear weapon, that means that it will prevent Iran from being able to enrich uranium. If this is certainly achieved, we will of course welcome it. But in any case, the State of Israel reserves the right to defend itself against a regime that threatens to destroy us."

3. NETANYAHU

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYING:

"We're coordinated with the (U.S.) administration, we talk to them, we respect their interests, and they respect our interests, and they overlap, I won't tell you to an absolute extent, of course not, but to an almost entirety. Together, we want to first and foremost ensure that Iran does not have nuclear weapons. We want to ensure that Hamas is expelled from Gaza. We want to ensure that the Trump plan, which I think is a brilliant plan, can really change, not just here, I think also the face of the Middle East."

5. JOURNALIST

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYING:

"I have no objection to the United States deepening its ties in the Arab world, that's perfectly fine. And I want to tell you more than that, I think this could help bring about the real expansion of the Abraham Accords, which I'm very interested in."

7. NETANYAHU LEAVING PRESS CONFERENCE