Regime Change In Iran Not Israel's Goal, But Possible Outcome, Says Netanyahu - Arise News
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that while regime change in Iran is not the official objective of Israel’s military operations, it could emerge as a consequence of ongoing hostilities. His comments come amid heightened tensions between Israel and Iran, with both countries engaged in a fierce air war and speculation mounting over potential US involvement.
“The matter of changing the regime or the fall of this regime is first and foremost a matter for the Iranian people. There is no substitute for this,” Netanyahu said during an interview with Israel’s Kan public television on Thursday. “That’s why I didn’t present it as a goal. It could be a result, but it’s not a stated or formal goal that we have.”
Netanyahu underscored Israel’s military capabilities, asserting that the country possesses the power to neutralise all of Iran’s nuclear sites — with or without assistance from the United States. He made the remarks before the White House announced that President Donald Trump would make a decision within the next two weeks on whether the US will enter the conflict.
One of the most formidable targets is the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant, a heavily fortified facility buried beneath a mountain near the Iranian city of Qom. Military analysts suggest that US-supplied bunker-busting munitions would be necessary to destroy the site completely.
When asked whether Israel could strike Fordow independently, Netanyahu responded confidently: “We have the power to remove all our targets, all their nuclear facilities. But the president’s decision whether he wants to join or not is again his decision. He will do what is good for the United States, and I will do what is good for the State of Israel.”
Netanyahu also praised the current level of cooperation between allies, stating, “Up to this moment, everyone is doing their part.”
For his part, President Trump acknowledged that the United States has the capacity to destroy Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, including Fordow, but signalled reluctance to act unilaterally. “That doesn’t mean I’m going to do it — at all,” Trump said on Wednesday.
Melissa Enoch
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