Israel has won against Iran, but campaign not over: Gideon Saar

JERUSALEM: Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Tuesday that Israel had effectively won its war with Iran, but gave no timeline for the end of the conflict, saying the campaign would continue until its objectives were fully met.

Speaking at a news conference, Saar said Israel aimed to remove “existential threats” and significantly weaken Iran’s ability to attack Israel, while creating conditions that could eventually enable Iranians to challenge their rulers. He, however, acknowledged that the Iranian regime could only be overthrown by its own people.

“One must be patient,” Saar said, speaking on the 18th day of a war that has killed more than 2,000 people, mostly in Iran and Lebanon, but also in Israel, Iraq, and across the Gulf.

The Israeli military has carried out air strikes on Iran’s ballistic missile sites, storage and production facilities, as well as locations linked to its nuclear programme, and attacked security forces. Saar described Iran as “dramatically weakened” and said the country is no longer the same as it was before the war began on February 28 with joint U.S.-Israeli strikes.

“This is clear for us and our neighbours, but we will continue until the mission is complete,” he said.

Despite Saar’s claims, Iran fired multiple missiles at Israel on Tuesday, demonstrating its continued ability to strike long-range targets after more than two weeks of conflict.

The war has also sparked wider regional tensions, with Israel fighting Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, while Tehran has launched strikes on Gulf Arab states. Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for 20 per cent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas, pushing up energy prices and raising inflation fears.

Several U.S. allies have declined President Donald Trump’s request to escort tankers through the strait, citing lack of consultation before the strikes. Saar described Iran’s blockade as “modern piracy” and a global concern.

Speaking alongside Saar, Estonia’s Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said his country could join a U.S.-led mission to reopen the waterway, but stressed that Washington must first clarify its objectives and the support it seeks.