STORY: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday evening (June 15) said that he will not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon and that Israel will stay in the buffer zone in southern Lebanon "to protect the residents of the north".

Earlier on Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump said a preliminary agreement to end the war in the Gulf has already been signed by the United States and Iran, though details have yet to be made public.

The deal is the most significant step yet to resolve the conflict, which has killed at least 7,000 people, mostly in Iran and Lebanon, and upended global energy markets.

But much about the agreement remains unknown.

U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Iran would have to satisfy U.S. demands never to build a nuclear weapon and cut off support for proxy militias like Hezbollah in order to get those benefits.

Trump appears to have achieved little of what he set out to do when he launched strikes on Iran with Israel on February 28.

Iran has said the deal requires a full cessation of hostilities between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah militia that it's backing, but Netanyahu said that Israel would keep its forces in southern Lebanon and would retain the right to respond to Hezbollah attacks.

A U.S. official said Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon was not a condition of the deal.

Netanyahu also referred to rumours that he may not run in Israel's next election that is expected to take place in September or October but a date has yet to be set.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Israel's Netanyahu vows to prevent Iran's nuclear weapon after U.S.-Iran deal

VIDEO SHOWS: ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU IN A NEWS CONFERENCE, COMMENTING ON U.S.-IRAN DEAL, LEBANON AND ISRAEL'S UPCOMING ELECTIONS

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: JERUSALEM (JUNE 15, 2026) (GPO - Access all)

1. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER, BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, SAYING:

״For decades, I have been fighting Iran's efforts to acquire nuclear weapons. I can define this as my life's mission. I have upheld it until now, and I will uphold it in the future as well. With or without a deal, Iran will not have nuclear weapons. Not today, and not tomorrow. As long as I am Prime Minister of Israel, this will not happen."

2. REPORTER ASKING QUESTION

3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYING:

"We saved the State of Israel from annihilation. But I tell you, citizens of Israel, the struggle is not over. We will have to continue standing guard, continue being strong and determined to defend ourselves as necessary."

4. REPORTER ASKING QUESTION

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYING:

"We established deep security zones around the State of Israel. We did this in Gaza, in Lebanon, and in Syria -- where, by the way, we eliminated all of the Assad army's weapons, which had been a central link in the axis of evil. And I want to make it clear: we will remain in these security zones for as long as necessary to protect our country."

6. REPORTER ASKING QUESTION

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYING:

"Well, President Trump and I know each other for many years. He is the President of the United States and I am the Prime Minister of Israel. Many times we see eye to eye, and there are also times when we don't see eye to eye. I am responsible for Israel's security interests and I insist on them."

8. REPORTER ASKING QUESTION

9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYING:

"Yes, I am going to run (in Israel's election) and I also intend on winning."

10. REPORTER ASKING QUESTION

11. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYING:

"Second, regarding Lebanon. We created there a buffer zone, a security zone. We will stay there as long as necessary. Iran wanted us to retreat from there. It didn't happen. Do you know why it didn't happen, among other things? Because I stood very very firmly. I was very very decisive about this thing and I think that our American friends respect this decisiveness and firm standing. We are staying there because we need to protect the residents of the north. And there are other things too, in anyways, we want to preserve, and act to preserve our freedom to act."

12. NETANYAHU, JOURNALISTS LEAVING