Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday, 25 May 2025 that he and US President Donald Trump have reached a shared position: any final agreement with Iran must completely eliminate the nuclear threat — including the dismantling of enrichment sites and the removal of all enriched nuclear material from Iranian territory. The statement came as US-Iran diplomatic talks appeared to gain momentum, with senior American officials signalling progress on the Strait of Hormuz standoff.

What Netanyahu Said

In a post on social media platform X, Netanyahu disclosed that he had spoken with President Trump the previous night, specifically about a memorandum of understanding to reopen the Straits of Hormuz and the trajectory of negotiations toward a final nuclear agreement with Iran.

'President Trump and I agreed that any final agreement with Iran must eliminate the nuclear danger. That means dismantling Iran's nuclear enrichment sites and removing its enriched nuclear material from its territory,' Netanyahu wrote.

He also expressed appreciation for Trump's 'unwavering commitment' to Israel's security, citing the joint operations Operation Roaring Lion and Operation Epic Fury, during which American and Israeli forces reportedly fought together against what Netanyahu described as the Iranian threat.

Trump's Reaffirmations to Israel

According to Netanyahu, President Trump also reaffirmed Israel's right to defend itself against threats on every front, explicitly including Lebanon. Netanyahu underscored the depth of the bilateral relationship: 'The partnership between us and our two countries has been proven on the battlefield and has never been stronger.'

He added that his own policy mirrors Trump's: 'Iran will not have nuclear weapons.'

Rubio Signals 'Good News' on Hormuz

Earlier on the same day, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking at a joint press conference in New Delhi alongside External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, indicated that 'significant progress' had been made in US-Iran diplomatic efforts.

Rubio said, 'I do think perhaps there is the possibility that over the next few hours the world will get some good news, at least with regards to the Straits and with regards to a process that can ultimately leave us where the President wants us to be — and that is a world that no longer has to be in fear or worry about an Iranian nuclear weapon.'

He cautioned, however, that the situation was not yet resolved: 'I also want to caveat it by saying we still have some work to do; we will see.' Rubio reiterated Trump's firm stance that Iran must never be permitted to possess a nuclear weapon.

Context and What Is at Stake

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most critical oil transit chokepoints, through which roughly 20% of global petroleum supplies pass. Any disruption — or resolution — carries immediate consequences for global energy markets. This comes amid a broader US diplomatic push under the Trump administration to reach a new framework with Tehran, following the collapse of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) after Washington's withdrawal in 2018.

Notably, Netanyahu's insistence on full dismantlement goes further than some earlier diplomatic frameworks, which had permitted limited enrichment under international monitoring. Whether Tehran will accept such terms remains the central question as negotiations proceed.

What Comes Next

Rubio's remarks from New Delhi suggested that a near-term announcement on the Strait of Hormuz situation was possible within hours of his statement. The broader nuclear negotiations, however, are expected to be protracted. How Iran responds to the joint US-Israel position on complete dismantlement will define the next phase of diplomacy.