Iran war and regime change discussion
The gist
Israel's Netanyahu said in October 2026 that Israel had adopted a policy of regime change in Iran.
Strikes have degraded Iran's military but left its regime standing, analysts say.
How it unfolded
- Jun 2025During the 12 Day War with Iran, Netanyahu said regime change was neither a declared nor an official objective but could be one of the outcomes, a matter for the Iranian people.
- Jan 2026A crackdown crushed a nationwide protest movement, killing thousands; two US sources said Trump wanted to create conditions for "regime change."
- Feb 13, 2026Trump said a change in Iran's power structure "would be the best thing that could happen."