'Iran no longer the same': Benjamin Netanyahu on war; PM Modi says India prepared for energy crisis

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed his country is "becoming stronger than ever" as it continues, alongside the United States, its war against Iran, which he said had suffered heavy blows after nearly two weeks of attacks.

Speaking at a news conference on Thursday, Netanyahu said Israeli strikes had killed top Iranian nuclear scientists and inflicted severe damage on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Basij forces.

"Iran is no longer the same Iran," Netanyahu said, claiming that attacks launched on February 28 had prevented Tehran from moving its nuclear and ballistic missile projects underground.

Asked about Iran's newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and Naim Qassem, the leader of Hezbollah, Netanyahu said he would not take out any "life insurance" on either figure.

He described Khamenei as a "puppet of the Revolutionary Guards," claiming he could not appear in public after the leader's statement was read on state television by a news anchor.

Addressing Iranians who have taken to the streets to protest their government, most recently in January, Netanyahu said, "We are standing by your side."

"But at the end of the day, this is up to you. It's in your hands," he added.

His remarks echoed earlier comments by US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly called on Iranians to rise up and overthrow their government, saying the "hour of their freedom is at hand."

The Israeli prime minister also said the war with Iran had enabled his country to forge new alliances in the region. "This would not have been possible in the past, but now we are doing our best," he said.

Meanwhile, Iran has launched drone and missile attacks on several Gulf countries, forcing oil terminals to halt operations and shaking the region's sense of security. Tehran has defended the strikes, saying they target only US assets in the region, but neighbouring countries say the attacks have damaged trust for the foreseeable future.

Amid the escalating conflict, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the government is "doing everything possible" to safeguard India's energy security amid the global fuel crisis triggered by the war in West Asia.

Addressing the NXT Summit 2026 in Delhi on Thursday, Modi said his government has worked in a holistic manner to make India self-reliant in the energy sector, which he said is leading to significant savings.

"Before 2014, India had negligible storage capacity for strategic petroleum reserves. Now, we have significant reserves," he said, according to PTI.

Modi added that his government is committed to ensuring that Indian citizens do not face difficulties due to wars in different parts of the world.

The prime minister also addressed concerns over LPG supply in the country, saying some people are trying to create panic and are "hurting the country."

"Some people are trying to create panic on LPG. Without making a political point, I will say they are not only exposing themselves before the people but also hurting the country," Modi said.

He also warned that strict action would be taken against those attempting to black-market essential commodities during the current situation.

Calling the crisis a test for the nation, Modi said the ongoing war involving Iran, the United States and Israel has pushed the world into a severe energy crisis.

"We all know that global circumstances can change suddenly. In recent years, we witnessed the COVID-19 pandemic, then the Russia-Ukraine crisis, and now another major war is unfolding very close to us," Modi said.

"A crisis, in many ways, is a test for the entire nation. With calm and patience, we must deal with these circumstances. By strengthening public trust and raising awareness among people, we must move forward together. In this, everyone has a role to play," he added.