Netanyahu says “we are the good guys” in Iran conflict, calls Tehran threat akin to 50 North Koreas

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel and its allies are “fighting the bad guys” in the ongoing conflict with Iran and characterises Tehran as an extreme threat comparable to “50 North Koreas,” asserting that the Islamic Republic is committed to the destruction of Western countries.

In remarks reported during a media interview and widely shared on social platforms, Netanyahu defended Israel’s military campaign alongside the United States against Iran. He said Israel and its partners represent the “good guys” in the confrontation and framed the war as a struggle against a regime that he believes actively seeks to harm Western nations.

Netanyahu described Iran’s leadership and military capabilities as exceptionally dangerous, asserting that Tehran’s ideology and actions make it a more serious menace than North Korea and claiming that Iran is “committed” to destroying the United States and its allies.

His comments come amid an expanding military conflict with Iran that has seen joint US-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets. The campaign has triggered widespread regional repercussions, including retaliatory attacks and rising tensions across the Middle East.

Netanyahu’s rhetoric reinforces his long-standing portrayal of Iran’s nuclear and missile ambitions as existential threats to Israel and Western security—a narrative he and other Western leaders have cited to justify heightened military and strategic responses.

International reaction to the conflict and to such statements has been mixed, with some governments expressing concern over escalation and calls for de-escalation, while others underscore the need to counter perceived threats from Tehran.

Netanyahu did not immediately provide specific new policy actions in his comments, but his remarks underscore Israel’s continued justification for its military involvement and strategic partnership with the United States in the ongoing Iran war.