'Iran's nuclear program hit substantially', says Israel president Isaac Herzog; calls US strike a 'brave decision'

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog has said Iran’s nuclear programme has been “hit substantially” following the recent US airstrike, though he admitted full details are still emerging. Speaking to the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, Herzog described the US decision to strike Iranian nuclear facilities as “historic” and “brave”.

Pressed on whether Iran’s nuclear capabilities have been fully dismantled, Herzog responded, “I don’t know the details, but it’s quite clear to me that the Iranian nuclear program has been hit substantially.”

When asked if Israel had directly requested US President Donald Trump to launch the attack, Herzog denied making any such request. “We decided to leave it to the Americans,” he said, adding that he himself was unaware of the strike in advance. “I was woken up when it happened,” Herzog revealed.

Asked whether Israel would now halt its own attacks on Iran, Herzog avoided a direct answer. “Iran is firing missiles at Israeli territory,” he said. “We have to do whatever it takes to defend ourselves against missiles.”

Calling for broader diplomatic coordination, Herzog emphasized the need for a long-term resolution: “The way to do it is of course to deal with it on an international level and make sure that there is an exit strategy.”