Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu denounced Iran’s “charm offensive” on Wednesday, in light of the news that the IDF had intercepted an Iranian weapons ship carrying missiles to Gaza.

“Israel captured a ship on the high seas, stocked with weapons destined for terrorist groups,” Netanyahu stated. “These weapons were going to be used against Israel.”

“This entire operation, this clandestine operation was organized by Iran.”

“At a time when it is talking to the major powers, Iran smiles and says all sorts of nice things,” Netanyahu noted. “The same Iran is sending deadly weapons to terrorist organizations and is doing so via a ramified network of secret operations in order to send rockets, missiles and other deadly weapons that will be used to harm innocent citizens.” 

“This is the true Iran and this state cannot possess nuclear weapons,” he continued. “We will continue to whatever is necessary in order to defend Israel’s citizens.”

The IDF conducted the raid in the Red Sea earlier Wednesday, between the waters of Sudan and Eritrea. The ship, which flew a Panamanian flag, carried dozens of B-302 missiles that have a range of up to 200 kilometers.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry has stated that it would file a complaint to the UN Security Council over the shipment. Iran has violated Security Council resolutions forbidding weapons sale from the Islamic Republic as well as arms smuggling to Gaza.