Netanyahu says he spent decades dealing with Iranian threat

ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had spent decades warning about the threat from Iran and pushing Israel's security establishment to focus on Tehran itself rather than only its proxies.

In an interview to Channel 14 on Sunday (August 30), Netanyahu said it had taken "a long time" to bring the United States "to its senses" on Iran, saying his extensive appearances on American television and knowledge of U.S. leaders had helped him influence opinion.

Israel and the United States launched attacks on Iran on February 28, killing its supreme leader and triggering weeks of Iranian missile strikes on Israel that killed civilians, damaged homes and strategic sites and sent millions into shelters.

A ceasefire announced on April 8 paused all-out warfare and has largely held between Israel and Iran, despite a brief exchange of fire in June. But flare-ups in the Gulf have continued.