'Israel Will Strike Iran’s Nuclear Sites Without U.S., Regime Change Not the Goal': Netanyahu

Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, may be shifting his stance because of the delay in receiving American assistance.  Although a change of power in Iran is not Israel's stated goal, the Israeli prime minister has stated that it might eventually come about as a result of the ongoing battle.  Benjamin Netanyahu stressed in an interview with Israel's national broadcaster Kan that the Iranian people own the right to change power and that Israel is not actively working towards this goal.  Netanyahu stated that "the matter of change of power or the fall of this power is first and foremost a matter of the Iranian people, and Israel will not interfere in it.

No Protests, No Regime Change Yet – Israeli Goals Under Scrutiny

The Israeli Prime Minister has been repeatedly calling upon the Iranian people to come out on the streets for a change of power for the past week, but he has failed miserably. Regime change in Iran is not the official objective of the Israeli government at the moment," according to Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar. There have been no protests against the government in Iran; people are seen standing more strongly with their government. He clarified that the Security Cabinet has not adopted any such policy "at the moment".

Israeli Prime Minister Adopts a New Tone on Iran Strategy

However, the Israeli Prime Minister still seems adamant on his decision to destroy Iran's nuclear sites. Netanyahu has said that his country is capable of removing all of Iran's nuclear facilities, whether US President Donald Trump decides to join in or not. Whether the US will help Israel or not is currently uncertain. Many reports have said that Donald Trump may 'betray' Israel. In view of this, Netanyahu has said that Israel will not wait for the green signal from the United States before attacking Iran's other sites, including the underground nuclear site at Fordo. In an interview given to Kan in Hebrew, Netanyahu said that "We will achieve all our objectives and attack all their nuclear facilities. We have the capability to do so."

On the other hand, in sharp contrast to Prime Minister Netanyahu's restrained remarks on power change, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said in harsh language that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is no longer a "person fit to live." He accused Khamenei of masterminding a missile attack on a hospital near Tel Aviv, which was a war crime. Katz also said that the Israeli army has been given clear orders to carry out large-scale attacks on the "strategic and government targets" of the Iranian regime, including Tehran, so that the power structure is completely shaken. The statement of the Israeli defence minister clearly indicates that the sentiment of power change is actively present within the Israeli government and security establishment, even if it is not a formal government policy.

Meanwhile, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has denied claims of a possible US military attack on Tehran, claiming it is an indication of Israel's weakness rather than American might.  Taking aim at both Washington and Tel Aviv, Ayatollah Khamenei said the US intervention reflects Israel's strategic failure. "The Zionist regime's weakness and incompetence are demonstrated by the fact that its American allies have travelled to the area and are making such statements. Ayatollah Khamenei said. However, Iran has shut down the internet across the country, making it difficult to get information on the ground situation, especially at a time when the Israeli army had warned civilians around the city of Rasht to leave the area. Israeli attacks have targeted strategic locations in Iran such as Natanz, Isfahan, Tehran and Rasht, causing serious damage to the Iranian ballistic missile system. However, the conflict is still moving in a dangerous direction, and Israel is failing to effectively stop Iranian attacks.