Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Iran is building ICBMs to reach the U.S. and wants them armed with nuclear warheads

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran is developing intercontinental ballistic missiles intended to reach the United States and wants to equip them with nuclear warheads.

Netanyahu made the remarks in an interview with Mark Levin aired Saturday night, October 17, on Fox News’ “Life, Liberty & Levin.” He said such missiles could put “every single city in the United States” at risk and argued that Iran would be unlike other nuclear powers because, in his view, its leadership does not follow the same calculations of cost and benefit.

The 2026 U.S. intelligence assessment says Iran has demonstrated space-launch and other technology that could be used to begin developing a militarily viable ICBM before 2035 if Tehran chose to pursue that capability. The assessment does not say Iran currently possesses an operational ICBM capable of reaching the United States.

Netanyahu also defended Israel’s conduct in Gaza, saying Hamas had prevented civilians from leaving combat zones at gunpoint and that this was responsible for civilian casualties. “And who is being accused? Israel. Crazy,” he said.

He rejected descriptions of Israel as a colonial project, saying: “We are not on stolen land. This is our historical homeland. We’re the indigenous people here.” Netanyahu added: “We’re not the Dutch in Indonesia. We’re Jews from Judea.”

On President Donald Trump, Netanyahu said leaders sometimes have to “take the hit” to act for future generations and said he believed Trump had done so.

The interview aired 10 days before Israel’s October 27 election.