Istanbul / Anadolu

Former Israeli army chief of staff and leader of the opposition 'Yashar' party Gadi Eisenkot said on Wednesday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scaring the Israeli public with claims about Iran possessing nuclear bombs.

The newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth quoted Eisenkot as saying during a conference held in central Israel: 'Netanyahu made outrageous statements. Iran never possessed any nuclear bombs at all. He is fabricating claims to scare the Israeli public.'

The newspaper pointed out that Eisenkot was referring to statements made by Netanyahu on Tuesday evening in an interview with Israel's Channel 14, in which he said: 'We attacked Iran twice to save ourselves from annihilation by the nuclear bombs they actually possessed.'

Eisenkot, who served as Israeli army chief of staff between 2015 and 2019, announced on Tuesday his intention to run for the position of prime minister.

In February 2026, the United States and Israel launched an aggression on Iran targeting military installations and infrastructure sites, before the confrontation expanded into a direct exchange of attacks.

In June 2025, Israel also carried out a large-scale military operation against targets inside Iran, which it said targeted its nuclear program and missile capabilities, while Tehran denied seeking to possess nuclear weapons, affirming that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.

No international report has so far confirmed that Iran possesses nuclear weapons.

Netanyahu's interview with the right-wing Channel 14 came as Israel prepares to hold general elections in the coming months.

Washington and Tel Aviv accuse Tehran of possessing nuclear and missile programs that pose a threat to Israel and regional allies of the United States, while Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful and that it does not seek to produce nuclear weapons or threaten any country.

Israel, which occupies Palestine and territories in Lebanon and Syria, is considered the only country in the region with a nuclear arsenal, according to international estimates, although it does not officially declare it, and it is not subject to International Atomic Energy Agency inspection of its nuclear facilities.