Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed Israel’s military and intelligence agencies to pursue the overthrow of Iran’s government, declaring regime change the only permanent solution to Tehran’s nuclear threat as tensions escalate ahead of elections in Israel and the United States.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Wednesday that he has instructed the Israel Defense Forces, Mossad and other security agencies to work toward overthrowing Iran’s government, formally identifying regime change as a central objective of Israel’s confrontation with Tehran.
Speaking at a military officer graduation ceremony at the Bahad 1 training base in southern Israel, Netanyahu accused Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei of continuing his father’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and warned that Iran’s leadership represents an enduring threat to Israel.
“There is only one way to remove this threat once and for all: Overthrow the regime in Iran. And that is my directive to the IDF, the Mossad, and the security branches,” Netanyahu told the graduating officers.
The Jerusalem Post reported that Netanyahu characterized Iran’s nuclear ambitions as an existential danger and said Israeli security forces must pursue the government’s removal rather than merely weaken its military capabilities.
“As long as they are here, as long as they strive to acquire horrific weapons, the State of Israel faces an existential threat,” Netanyahu said.
“And our duty, the duty of all of us, is to save the nation,” he added.
Iran has repeatedly denied seeking nuclear weapons, maintaining that its nuclear activities are intended for civilian purposes. Israel and the United States have challenged Tehran’s assertions and demanded restrictions on its nuclear program.
Netanyahu’s remarks represent one of his clearest public instructions to Israeli security agencies to pursue regime change, although he has previously advocated replacing Iran’s leadership.
In June, the Israeli leader suggested that the Iranian government was approaching collapse and said Israel would assist efforts to bring about its downfall.
Wednesday’s statement went further by presenting the government’s overthrow as an explicit mission for Israel’s armed forces and intelligence services.
Netanyahu also portrayed President Donald Trump as supportive of coordinated action against Tehran, saying the American president had recently expressed willingness to complete the military campaign alongside Israel.
According to Israeli reporting on the address, Netanyahu told the officers that Trump had declared the United States was “ready to finish the job” and would act with Israeli assistance.
Trump has warned Iran that Washington retains military options if diplomatic negotiations fail, but he has not publicly confirmed adopting the overthrow of Iran’s government as an official American objective.
The announcement comes amid reports that American and Israeli military officials are preparing potential strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities, missile installations and other strategic infrastructure after the Nov. 3 U.S. midterm elections.
Recent accounts indicate that Trump has resisted proposals to resume major combat operations before the elections, although the administration continues to consider its options.
The Washington Post reported Thursday that Israeli and American officials remain engaged in military preparations as Washington weighs the possibility of renewed attacks.
Earlier this week, Israeli fighter jets and aerial refueling aircraft conducted an extensive long-range exercise near Iranian territory.
According to Axios, the maneuver involved dozens of aircraft and was intended to demonstrate Israel’s ability to conduct operations deep inside the region.
The heightened military activity comes before Israel’s Oct. 27 national election, with Netanyahu seeking to retain power amid continuing regional security concerns.
During Wednesday’s speech, Netanyahu also described the campaign against Tehran as part of a broader effort to dismantle Iran’s network of allied militant organizations.
“We will eliminate the head of the octopus, and we will also finally sever its arms, the remainder of its arms, we will eliminate Hamas and eliminate Hezbollah,” he said.
The prime minister argued that weakening Iran’s government would also undermine armed groups operating in Gaza and Lebanon.
“In Lebanon, in Gaza, and certainly in Iran. In Iran, they hope for Israel’s victory,” Netanyahu said.
Addressing the newly commissioned officers, Netanyahu told them that bringing down the Iranian government was “now also your mission” and urged them “to eliminate the Axis of Evil once and for all.”
Defense Minister Israel Katz reinforced the warning during the same ceremony, threatening severe retaliation if Tehran launched another attack against Israel.
“If Iran attacks Israel, Iran will burn!” Katz declared.
The Times of Israel reported that Katz’s remarks also addressed the possibility of attacks during Israel’s approaching election.
The statements come as Iran and the United States continue indirect negotiations through regional intermediaries, including Pakistan and Qatar.
Diplomatic discussions have focused on nuclear restrictions, sanctions, maritime security and possible arrangements to prevent a broader resumption of hostilities.
Iran has called for an end to American sanctions and the lifting of restrictions affecting its oil exports, while Washington continues demanding guarantees concerning Tehran’s nuclear activities.
Netanyahu’s announcement introduces a potentially significant obstacle to those efforts by identifying the removal of Iran’s government, rather than a negotiated agreement alone, as Israel’s preferred outcome.
The declaration does not establish that Israel has launched a new military campaign or that Washington has authorized operations intended to overthrow Tehran’s leadership.
However, it makes clear that Israel’s prime minister is directing security officials to pursue a political outcome extending beyond restrictions on Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities.
With military preparations continuing and diplomatic negotiations unresolved, Netanyahu’s directive signals that regime change has become an explicit Israeli objective in the confrontation with Iran.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that he has directed Israel’s military and intelligence agencies to work toward toppling Iran’s government and called regime change the only way to permanently end the threat he says Tehran poses.
“There is only one way to remove this threat once and for all: Overthrow the regime in Iran. And that is my directive to the IDF, the Mossad, and the security branches,” Netanyahu said during a graduation ceremony for military officers at the Bahad 1 training base in southern Israel.
He accused Iran’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, of following his late father in trying again to develop nuclear weapons. Iran has consistently denied seeking nuclear arms.
“As long as they are here, as long as they strive to acquire horrific weapons, the State of Israel faces an existential threat,” Netanyahu said.
“And our duty, the duty of all of us, is to save the nation,” he added.
The remarks represented Netanyahu’s most explicit public directive to Israeli security agencies to pursue regime change, although he had previously said Israel would help bring down Iran’s government. In June, he said the Iranian government’s days were numbered and that Israel would assist in its collapse.
Netanyahu also portrayed President Donald Trump as supporting coordinated action against Iran.
He said Trump had declared that the United States was “ready to finish the job” and would do so only with Israel’s help.
Trump warned over the weekend that the U.S. would “finish the job” against Iran unless its leaders change course.
The New York Times has also reported that the U.S. and Israel are drawing up plans for a large-scale attack on Iran after the U.S. midterm elections.
Netanyahu cast the effort as part of a wider campaign against Iran and its allied militant groups.
“We will eliminate the head of the octopus, and we will also finally sever its arms, the remainder of its arms, we will eliminate Hamas and eliminate Hezbollah,” he said.
He said many people across the region want Israel to prevail.
“In Lebanon, in Gaza, and certainly in Iran. In Iran, they hope for Israel’s victory,” Netanyahu said.
He told the new officers that bringing down Iran’s government is “now also your mission” and urged them “to eliminate the Axis of Evil once and for all.”
Defense Minister Israel Katz, who also addressed the graduates, issued a direct warning to Tehran.
“If Iran attacks Israel, Iran will burn!” Katz said.
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