Israel FM Gideon Sa’ar holds urgent global talks, while Israel ramps up diplomatic efforts. President Herzog and PM Netanyahu reaffirm the right to self-defense amid rising regional tensions and ongoing military operations.
In the wake of Israel’s launch of a major military offensive against Iran, dubbed ‘Operation Rising Lion’, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has embarked on a global diplomatic campaign, holding a series of urgent conversations with foreign ministers across the world. The operation, announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, aims to counter what Israel describes as an “immediate and existential threat” from Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
According to an official statement from the Israeli Foreign Ministry, Sa’ar has been conducting a “marathon of calls” with his counterparts since the operation began. One of the first calls took place early Friday morning with German Foreign Minister Wadephul. Sa’ar reportedly updated his German counterpart on the unanimous decision made by Israel’s Cabinet and the subsequent action carried out by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
“We made this decision at the last possible minute, after all other avenues had been exhausted,” Sa’ar told Wadephul. “The latest IAEA report illustrated the serious Iranian violations. The whole world saw and understood that the Iranians were not ready to stop and we had to stop them. We know that challenging days lie ahead, but we have no other choice.”
Sa’ar also held a detailed conversation with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, discussing the broader regional context, including the volatile situation in Gaza and Israel’s ongoing efforts to reach a hostage deal—which, he emphasized, has been rejected by Hamas so far.
The Foreign Ministry, under Sa’ar’s direction, has now shifted into emergency mode, opening a special situation room to coordinate diplomatic messaging and maintain active communication with Israeli missions worldwide. These missions have been instructed to engage diplomatically and through media platforms to secure international legitimacy for the military action.
“Israel’s missions will operate diplomatically and through the media in all arenas to enable diplomatic legitimacy for the military operation,” the ministry said in its statement.
Amid the international outreach, Israeli President Isaac Herzog issued a public statement reaffirming the country’s resolve to defend itself in the face of Iranian threats.
“Last night, Israel launched a targeted operation to neutralize an immediate and existential threat to our people,” said Herzog. “The Iranian regime, at the helm of a global terror empire, has continued to radicalize and destabilize the region while working relentlessly to advance its military nuclear capabilities.”
Herzog emphasized that Iran has openly and repeatedly expressed intentions to annihilate Israel, and that the Jewish state not only has the right but also the solemn duty to act in self-defense.
“We sincerely hope that this will change the trajectory of our region toward a more peaceful and prosperous future,” he added.
The military operation follows escalating concerns over Iran’s nuclear program. Prime Minister Netanyahu explained that recent developments show Iran has moved closer than ever to weaponizing enriched uranium, bringing it potentially months away from a deployable nuclear weapon.
“If not stopped, Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a very short time—within months, or even weeks,” Netanyahu warned in a video statement. “This is a clear and present danger to Israel’s very survival.”
Netanyahu declared that Operation Rising Lion will continue “for as many days as it takes” to eliminate this looming threat. The government has framed the offensive as a last resort after diplomatic and multilateral options failed to yield any progress in curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
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The international community is watching developments closely. While some nations have expressed concern over escalation, others have reaffirmed Israel’s right to self-defense, especially in light of the findings from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regarding Iran’s violations of nuclear agreements.
As the conflict unfolds, Israel’s top officials remain focused on both military objectives and international diplomacy, seeking to ensure that their actions are understood, if not endorsed, on the global stage.
