Netanyahu Warns Iran During Trilateral Summit

“We are monitoring the Iranian exercises and making the required preparations.”

By United with Israel Staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is closely monitoring regional developments and making the necessary preparations amid growing concerns that Iran may be planning an attack, warning Tehran that “any action will be met with a very harsh response.”

Netanyahu made the remarks during a trilateral summit with Greece and Cyprus, which he described as the most consequential of the ten such meetings held to date.

He noted that the previous summit took place shortly before the October 7 Hamas massacre, a reminder, he said, that regional stability is never guaranteed and that strength, clarity, and cooperation are not optional but essential.

“The Middle East and the eastern Mediterranean are being tested by aggression, terror, and instability,” Netanyahu said. He stressed that the partnership between Israel, Greece, and Cyprus provides resilience and strategic clarity in the face of chaos, while also creating new opportunities for regional prosperity.

Addressing Turkey during the summit, Netanyahu added a pointed warning: “Those who hope to expand their empire should forget it. We are committed and capable of defending ourselves, and our cooperation strengthens that ability.”

The prime minister also directly addressed rising tensions with Iran, saying Israel is closely following Iranian military exercises and adjusting its readiness accordingly. “We are monitoring the Iranian exercises and making the required preparations,” he said. “I want to make it clear to Tehran that any action will be met with a very harsh response.”

The warning comes as a flurry of unusual air activity over Iran has raised alarm among U.S. and Israeli officials. In recent days, Western intelligence has detected increased drone and missile activity in Iranian airspace, believed to be part of a large-scale missile exercise.

According to reports, Israeli defense officials are increasingly concerned that the maneuvers, following similar recent activity, could serve as cover for a surprise attack on Israel.

Israel’s security leadership has reportedly been in close contact with the United States over the developments.

According to the reports, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir spoke with the head of U.S. Central Command, Adm. Brad Cooper, to convey Israel’s concerns and discuss coordinated defensive preparations in response to the Iranian exercises.

Israeli officials have repeatedly warned that while Iran frames such activity as routine drills, the timing and scale have heightened fears of escalation, prompting Jerusalem to reinforce its deterrence message and readiness across multiple fronts.