Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has ordered Israel’s military and intelligence services to overthrow Iran’s government, describing Tehran as an ongoing threat. Speaking at an IDF officer course graduation ceremony and later at election-related events, he frames regime change as the “only way” to remove the danger he associates with Iran’s weapons program.
Several outlets report additional context linking the comments to Israel’s election campaign and to US political timing. Channel NewsAsia, Korea Times, and others say the statements come as the election race tightens, while references to US President Donald Trump’s reported stance add context about whether renewed strikes would be considered before key US voting dates.
A number of outlets also emphasize Netanyahu’s claims about discussions with Trump, with some coverage noting Trump has said he does not plan to restart war before US midterm elections while also expressing support for “eliminating” the Iranian regime. Across reports, the common element is Netanyahu’s insistence that toppling Iran’s leadership is his directive to Israel’s security branches, without consistent detail on timing or methods.
