Iranupdated 1h ago2 min read
Netanyahu Says He Discussed Eliminating Iran’s Regime With Trump, Including Hezbollah
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Netanyahu says he discussed toppling the Iranian regime with Trump. Regime change is Israel's principal objective to prevent Iran's nuclear reconstitution.
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Regime change pledge
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he discussed “eliminating” Iran’s regime with U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday, framing the goal as key to preventing Iran from rebuilding its nuclear programme and the so-called Axis of Resistance.
Netanyahu told an audience that “We are committed to completing the elimination of the Iranian regime,” and he added, “I have discussed this with Trump many times, including the day before yesterday.”
Netanyahu also argued that “Completing the job means toppling the terrorist regime in Iran,” and he said that “If you cut off the head, everything else will collapse.”
Netanyahu tied the objective to Lebanon, saying “the elimination of Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite movement backed by Iran, would also occur.”
Trump, Hegseth, and talks
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth discussed Iran with Netanyahu during an unannounced visit to Israel, and Doron Spielman later confirmed to Reuters that Netanyahu met Hegseth at the Uvda air force base in Israel's southern Negev desert region.
Spielman said Hegseth thanked Israel for hosting U.S. forces, which Spielman said numbered in the thousands, and he described the discussion as grounded in “There's a deep personal relationship here that was at the core of this discussion.”
Iran security chief Mohsen Rezaei told visiting Pakistani army chief Asim Munir that Tehran would not allow nuclear material to leave the country, and he said, “Not even a tiny bit of enriched nuclear material will leave Iran.”
Rezaei also delivered the message that there would be “no talks with Washington until America takes steps to build trust,” and he said the process “must begin with the fulfillment of Iran’s conditions.”
Nuclear stakes and elections
Netanyahu warned that the Iranian regime would continue pursuing nuclear weapons and attempting to rebuild its regional axis “as long as it lives,” and he said, “Therefore, the only way to prevent this is to topple this regime.” Kurdistan 24 reported that Netanyahu framed the objective as the only way to prevent nuclear reconstitution and Hezbollah revival, and it quoted him saying, “We must complete the elimination of the Iranian regime, that is the main thing.”
The Kurdistan 24 account said the briefing came nine days before Israeli parliamentary elections on October 27, and it described Trump’s endorsement as part of the same pre-election context. The Times of Israel account said the war began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, and it reported that Trump signaled a willingness to resume hostilities following the US midterm elections on November 3 while Israel holds its own election on October 27.