Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday (April 21) that Israel and the United States had “removed” what he described as an immediate threat from Iran, which he said had been on the verge of developing nuclear weapons.

"Today we were compelled to act together with our great ally, the United States, against the terror state par excellence, which… sought and indeed was on the verge of developing the ultimate terror weapon: nuclear bombs," Netanyahu said at a ceremony marking Israel’s Memorial Day in Jerusalem.

“We have removed this immediate threat, and we will continue to fight with all our strength,” He added.

Netanyahu spoke as a ceasefire with Iran was set to expire.

Trump announced the two-week ceasefire with Iran on April 7, and has not specified when precisely it ends.

Washington has expressed confidence that talks with Iran will go ahead in Pakistan, and a senior Iranian official said Tehran was ‌considering ⁠joining.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Netanyahu says Israel, U.S. 'removed Iran nuclear threat' as ceasefire sets to expire

VIDEO SHOWS: ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SPEAKS AT ANNUAL MEMORIAL CEREMONY FOR VICTIMS OF MILITANT ATTACKS

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: JERUSALEM (APRIL 21, 2026) (POOL - Access all)

1. ISRAELI PRESIDENT ISAAC HERZOG ARRIVING AT CEREMONY WITH FIRST LADY MICHAL HERZOG

2. STAGE AND PEOPLE AT CEREMONY

3. ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU AND HIS WIFE SARA ARRIVING AT EVENT / NETANYAHU SHAKING HANDS WITH U.S AMBASSADOR MIKE HUCKABEE

4. STAGE AND PEOPLE AT CEREMONY

5. NETANYAHU WALKING ON STAGE TOWARDS PODIUM

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

"And today we were compelled to act together with our great ally, the United States, against the terror state par excellence, which indeed threatens the entire world and has already attacked many countries. It attacked their civilians with powerful ballistic missiles and sought and indeed was on the verge of developing the ultimate terror weapon: nuclear bombs."

7. WHITE FLASH

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

"We have removed this immediate threat, and we will continue to fight with all our strength against terror states, and of course also against terrorists who deliberately target innocent civilians."

9. NETANYAHU LEAVING STAGE, RETURNING TO HIS SEAT

10. HERZOG WALKING ON STAGE, HANGING WREATH

11. HERZOG WALKING OFF STAGE

12. NETANYAHU WALKING ON STAGE, HANGING WREATH

13. NETANYAHU WALKING OFF STAGE