Israeli Foreign Minister Outlines Strategy for Regime Change in Iran

Israeli Foreign Minister Outlines Strategy for Regime Change in Iran

In a recent interview with The Times of Israel, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar stated that while Israel cannot directly overthrow the Iranian government, it aims to empower the Iranian people to execute regime change through strategic military and international pressure. The remarks were heavily covered by Persian-language media on March 12, 2026.

According to Iran International ایران اینترنشنال, a foreign-based news network strongly critical of the Islamic Republic, Sa'ar emphasized that only the Iranian people are capable of bringing down the Islamic Republic. However, he explicitly noted that Iranians will "need some kind of foreign help" if they are to succeed in altering their government.

DW Persian دویچه‌‌وله فارسی, the Persian-language service of the German state broadcaster which frequently amplifies opposition narratives, quoted Sa'ar directly: "We cannot overthrow the regime, only the Iranian people can do this." He asserted that the Iranian populace has "no chance of overthrowing the regime" without external assistance.

Across the coverage from these outlets, as well as the Telegram news aggregator اخبارفوری خبرفوری جنگ امریکا فوری, several core tenets of Israel's posture toward Iran were detailed:

Weakening Suppression Mechanisms: While direct regime change is not Israel's explicit goal in the current war, DW Persian highlighted Sa'ar's focus on the "significant weakening of the Iranian regime's suppression mechanisms." By targeting Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) bases and command centers, Israel aims to weaken the government enough to pave the way for an internal transition. Exploiting Internal Vulnerabilities: Both DW Persian and Iran International reported Sa'ar's observation of "visible cracks" within the leadership of the Islamic Republic. Although hardline extremists still maintain control, DW Persian cited Sa'ar's assessment that there are "many signs that this regime has become fragile and is losing its capabilities."

• Fostering an Internal Uprising: According to اخبارفوری خبرفوری جنگ امریکا فوری, Israel's strategy seeks to avoid imposing regime change from the outside, but rather to foster an environment allowing Iranians to act independently. The channel emphasized that the mounting pressure from international sanctions and military conflict is creating a "historic opportunity for an internal uprising."

Iran International further noted Sa'ar's historical perspective on the timeline of such events, reporting his view that developments like regime change typically materialize following the conclusion of a military campaign, rather than in the midst of active warfare.