Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told CBS's 60 Minutes he wants to begin phasing out the $3.8 billion annual U.S. financial component of military cooperation, proposing to complete the drawdown within ten years and to start immediately. He said operations against Iran — including dismantling enrichment sites, countering proxies and addressing ballistic-missile programs — remain ongoing. Netanyahu declined to discuss specific military plans, though he suggested highly enriched uranium could be physically removed if conditions allow. The interview follows a conflict that began Feb. 28 and has had human and economic consequences, including U.S. military casualties and higher gasoline prices.
Netanyahu Proposes Phasing Out $3.8B in U.S. Military Aid Over 10 Years, Signals Ongoing Action Against Iran
Trump kicked off the war on Iran not long after Netanyahu visited the White House in February. / Jonathan Ernst / Reuters
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told CBS's 60 Minutes that Israel should begin reducing — and eventually eliminate — the American financial portion of its military cooperation, currently worth about $3.8 billion a year. He said he has raised the idea with President Donald Trump and with Israeli audiences, and proposed starting the drawdown now and completing it within a decade.
On U.S. Aid: Netanyahu framed the proposal as a planned “weaning” from financial dependence on the United States. “I want to draw down to zero the American financial support — the financial component of the military cooperation that we have,” he told correspondent Major Garrett, adding that the reduction could proceed quickly once it begins.
Garrett has been CBS News's chief Washington correspondent since 2018. / CBS Photo Archive
“I said, let’s start now, and do it over the next decade, over the next 10 years. But I want to start now. I don’t want to wait for the next Congress,” Netanyahu said.
On the Campaign Against Iran: Netanyahu said the military campaign against Iran is not finished, citing enrichment sites, proxy networks and ballistic-missile programs that he said still must be dismantled or neutralized. When asked how highly enriched uranium could be removed, he said bluntly: “You go in, and you take it out,” but declined to discuss operational details.
“There’s still enrichment sites that have to be dismantled. There’s still proxies that Iran supports. There are ballistic missiles that they still want to produce,” he said.
Netanyahu also quoted President Trump as telling him, “I want to go in there!” — a remark Netanyahu used to convey Trump’s willingness to consider direct action, while insisting he would not outline specific military plans or capabilities.
Trump launched the war alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. / Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
Human and Economic Costs: The interview comes as the conflict, which began on Feb. 28, has reportedly resulted in the deaths of 13 American service members and hundreds of wounded. Netanyahu and the reporting outlet also noted regional disruptions to shipping: Iran initially closed the Strait of Hormuz, and U.S. naval actions followed, contributing to higher global energy prices. The national U.S. average for gasoline stood at about $4.52 per gallon, according to AAA.
Reaction and Next Steps: The White House did not immediately comment on Netanyahu’s remarks as reported. Netanyahu stressed he does not want to wait for the next U.S. Congress to begin a phased reduction in financial aid and indicated the process could be accelerated depending on circumstances.
Note: All statements in this report reflect the interview and the prime minister’s public comments as presented on 60 Minutes. Operational and classified military details were not disclosed.
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