Israel Not Interested In Peace Talks With Iran, Netanyahu Says

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told ABC on Monday that Israel is not interested in resuming negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program.

Netanyahu shot down the peace talks amid reports that Iran was interested in renewing negotiations as the Israeli Air Force continues its devastating bombardment of Tehran’s nuclear sites, military targets and key leadership figures. Iran reportedly said it would only come to the table if the U.S. did not get involved in the war offensively, sources told the WSJ Monday.

“I’m not surprised, they want to continue to have these fake talks in which they lie, they cheat, they string the U.S. along, and, you know, we have very solid intel on that,” Netanyahu told ABC News. “But of course, they want to keep on building their nuclear weapons and building their mass ballistic missile arsenal, which they’re firing at our people.”

Netanyahu previously said at the start of the strikes that the bombardment would last “as long as it takes” to completely annihilate Iran’s nuclear program.

Israel has established relatively uncontested air superiority over Tehran, allowing the Air Force to bomb targets without much risk. After taking out air defenses with covert assets inside Iran, the Israeli Air Force killed multiple high-profile Iranian leaders, including Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps leader Hossein Salami.

Trump has sent mixed signals on whether or not the U.S. will go on offense against Iran, saying Sunday that “it’s possible” American jumps into the war while also noting the U.S.’ current defensive mission.

“Today, it’s Tel Aviv. Tomorrow, it’s New York. Look, I understand ‘America First.’ I don’t understand ‘America Dead’,” Netanyahu told ABC News.

The White House and the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.