US and Israel Considering Regime Change in Iran Amid Protests, Claims Jerusalem Post
Israel: Israeli newspaper The Jerusalem Post has claimed that the United States and Israel are considering the possibility of regime change in Iran amid ongoing anti-government protests.
According to the report, recent US action in Venezuela, particularly the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro, has altered the strategic calculations of both Israeli and American officials regarding Iran. The development reportedly surprised Israeli authorities and prompted renewed discussions on whether similar pressure could be applied in Iran.
Citing Israeli sources, the report said that prior to the US action in Venezuela, most Israeli officials believed that protests against Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei were not widespread enough to threaten the survival of the government. However, following Maduro’s arrest, this assessment has reportedly changed, and the possibility of intervention is now being reviewed.
In Washington, officials are said to be considering whether limited and targeted actions could be used to leverage the protest movement to increase pressure on the Iranian government. Israel, meanwhile, reportedly believes that the Venezuela episode may have created an opportunity for action in Iran.
The report further claimed that Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad, has acknowledged on social media platform X that it is providing assistance to Iranian protesters. Iran, for its part, has claimed to have arrested an agent linked to such activities.
Following the US action in Venezuela, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly convened a special security meeting. Former defense minister Benny Gantz was quoted as saying that Israel and the United States should intervene in support of Iranian protesters so that the government either becomes autonomous under pressure or collapses altogether.
The report noted that as recently as June, US and Israeli officials were focused solely on damaging Iran’s nuclear program and were not in favor of pursuing regime change. However, ongoing protests in Iran and the swift developments in Venezuela have opened the door to new strategic options.
Despite these discussions, the report said no final decision appears imminent, particularly as former US President Donald Trump is still assessing how to manage the situation in Venezuela following Maduro’s arrest. Nonetheless, for the first time, limited intervention in support of Iranian protesters is being viewed as potentially feasible without the need for a large-scale military operation.
