Iran Tensions Prompt Netanyahu to Block US F-35 Sale to Turkey
Amid Iran tensions, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly opposed US plans to sell F-35 jets to Turkey, warning that Ankara seeks to replace Tehran as the dominant power and surround Israel with a Sunni ring of fire.
Netanyahu Opposes F-35 Sale to Turkey Amid Iran Tensions
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that history shows when one regional power declines another rises, and Israel must rise faster. He launched a US campaign against selling F-35s to Turkey, now seen as jockeying to fill the vacuum left by Iran's degraded military and proxies. Netanyahu told US networks that Turkey has aggressive aspirations, is not a force for peace, and that F-35s would destroy the regional power balance guaranteed by Israel's air superiority. He described Erdogan's regime as infected by the Muslim Brotherhood that hates America. [1] Netanyahu said on CNN that Turkey “has aggressive aspirations,” “is not a force for peace and security,” and F-35 planes in its hands would “destroy the power balance” in the region. He added on Fox News that Turkey “is governed by a man who openly calls for the annihilation of Israel” and that the regime is “infected by the Muslim Brotherhood, an extremist movement that hates America and chants ‘Death to America’ from that side of the [Islamic] ideological spectrum.” Selling F-35s, he argued, would upset the balance of power ultimately guaranteed by Israel’s air superiority. [1]
Iran's Declining Influence Creates Vacuum
Netanyahu stated that history shows when one regional power declines another rises, and Israel must rise faster. With the sun setting on Iran’s regional hegemony, its military capabilities and web of regional proxies have been severely degraded. Turkey is now furiously jockeying to replace Iran as the region’s dominant power. Already entrenched in Syria and steadily expanding an indigenous defense industry capable of producing sophisticated drones, naval vessels, and eventually advanced fighter aircraft, Ankara increasingly appears intent on filling the regional vacuum Iran leaves behind. Former national security adviser Giora Eiland observed that Iran sought to surround Israel with a Shi’ite ring of fire while Turkey increasingly appears interested in building a Sunni one. [1]
Escalation in the Strait of Hormuz
US strikes hit around 90 targets in Iran after accusations of attacks on ships. Iran responded by targeting US bases and threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz, leading to sharply reduced shipping traffic and oil price concerns. Traffic through Hormuz has dropped significantly, with only 13 tankers crossing on July 8 versus a prior average of 33. Norwegian shipping firms have withdrawn vessels, citing high risks and advising coordination with US warships. [3][4] The new wave of US attacks against Iran has an undefined time frame but a clear objective to reopen the Strait of Hormuz against Tehran’s claim of control. Thirteen tankers crossed the Strait of Hormuz on July 8 compared with an average of 33 per day over the previous week. Traffic slowed after Iranian attacks on at least three ships triggered a renewed round of fighting with the US. [4]
Impact on Global Shipping and Energy
Traffic through Hormuz has dropped significantly, with only 13 tankers crossing on July 8 versus a prior average of 33. Norwegian shipping firms have withdrawn vessels, citing high risks and advising coordination with US warships. Analysis by Wood Mackenzie warns that oil prices could rise to 200 dollars per barrel if transport through the Strait does not pick up. Before the recent conflict, prices stood at around 70 dollars per barrel. Several producers including Iraq, Qatar, and Kuwait have decided to reduce production of oil and gas because storage is filling up when exports pause. [3][4] The Norwegian Shipowners’ Association confirmed that traffic through the strait has fallen sharply in recent days. All Norwegian ships that wanted to leave the area have done so, and firms such as Odfjell in Bergen have stated they will not sail into the area until the security situation improves substantially. The Norwegian War Insurance for Ships recommends vessels coordinate with the US Navy when transiting the southern corridor. [3]
Israel's Ongoing Stance on Iran
Netanyahu separately affirmed that the war with Iran is not over, that Israel will prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons, and that Iranian forces suffered a heavy blow but security challenges persist, including Israeli deployment in Lebanon. Speaking on Thursday, July 9, Netanyahu said Israel’s confrontation with Iran remained ongoing and that the country would continue taking measures to counter Iran’s nuclear ambitions. He claimed Iran had suffered a “heavy blow” during the recent conflict but argued that Israel’s security challenges had not ended. The Israeli leader also said Israeli forces would remain deployed in Lebanon “for as long as necessary.” [5]
Broader Regional and International Reactions
Netanyahu told US networks that Turkey has aggressive aspirations, is not a force for peace, and that F-35s would destroy the regional power balance guaranteed by Israel's air superiority. Turkey threatens regional and Mediterranean stability through repeated airspace violations over the Aegean, long-running disputes over maritime boundaries with Greece, and continued occupation of half of Cyprus. For Armenians, opposition to a stronger Turkey is rooted in the national trauma of the Armenian Genocide and Ankara’s continued refusal to acknowledge it. The European Association of Nuclear Medicine has barred Iranian citizens from attending its congresses, regardless of where they live, citing European Union sanctions. [1][2]
What to watch next: Oil markets could become more nervous next week if a truce is not re-established, while Gulf states continue developing pipeline alternatives that would bypass the Strait of Hormuz and limit Iran’s long-term leverage.
