Recent developments in the Middle East have raised questions about whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump are pursuing regime change in Iran as part of their military and strategic actions against the country. Drawing from the latest reports, this answer examines the statements, actions, and underlying motivations attributed to both leaders regarding this objective.
Netanyahu's Stance on Regime Change
Benjamin Netanyahu has openly suggested that regime change in Iran could be a consequence of military actions, though it is not always stated as an explicit goal. In a June 15 interview with Fox News, Netanyahu indicated that a change in Iran's leadership might result from Israel's military operations, emphasizing that Israel would take all necessary measures to eliminate the "existential threat" posed by Tehran[1]. He further elaborated that while the primary objective is to dismantle Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities, regime change could "certainly be the result" due to Iran's perceived weakness[1]. Additionally, Netanyahu's appearance on an Iranian opposition TV program titled "Regime Change In Iran" and his recent media statements have been interpreted as an effective endorsement of the idea, even if Israeli officials maintain that it is not an official war aim approved by the security cabinet[2].
Trump's Position and Actions
President Donald Trump's stance on regime change in Iran appears more cautious and ambiguous compared to Netanyahu's rhetoric. Following U.S. airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities—Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan—on June 21, 2025, Trump announced the attacks via Truth Social, framing them as a means to halt Iran's uranium enrichment activities and suggesting that "now is the time for peace"[3][4]. However, he has not explicitly endorsed regime change as a goal. U.S. officials note that Trump remains unconvinced about pursuing such an outcome, with one senior administration official summarizing the hesitation as "the Ayatollah you know versus the Ayatollah you don't know," indicating a preference for dealing with the current regime over the uncertainty of a replacement[2]. Additionally, Trump opposed an Israeli proposal to assassinate Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei when the opportunity arose, further signaling his reluctance to directly target Iran's leadership[2].
Despite this, Trump's decision to conduct the airstrikes marks a significant escalation of U.S. involvement in the conflict, aligning with Israel's broader military efforts against Iran[3]. This shift comes after months of resisting Netanyahu's push for military action, during which Trump prioritized diplomatic efforts to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions[5][6]. The eventual authorization of strikes, following failed negotiations and intelligence suggesting Iran was stalling talks to advance its nuclear program, suggests that Trump may be indirectly supporting conditions that could lead to regime destabilization, even if not explicitly pursuing it as a policy objective[5].
Coordination and Strategic Alignment
There is clear evidence of coordination between Netanyahu and Trump in their approach to Iran, though their ultimate goals may diverge. Netanyahu has praised Trump's "bold decision" to target Iran's nuclear facilities, calling it a "pivot of history" that could lead to peace and prosperity in the Middle East[7][4][8]. Reports indicate that the U.S. operation was conducted in "full coordination" with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and Israeli officials were informed of the planned strikes in advance[3][4]. Netanyahu's long-standing efforts to convince U.S. leaders of the need for military intervention—evident in his direct appeals to Trump, including a February 4 meeting at the White House where he highlighted Iran's nuclear advancements and alleged assassination plots against Trump—appear to have influenced the U.S. president's eventual decision to act[5].
Critics, such as Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), argue that Netanyahu has consistently aimed to draw the U.S. into a conflict with Iran, a goal they claim he is close to achieving with Trump's recent actions[9]. This perspective suggests that while Trump may not explicitly target regime change, his alignment with Netanyahu's aggressive posture could contribute to such an outcome.
Conclusion
While Benjamin Netanyahu has openly entertained the possibility of regime change in Iran as a potential outcome of military actions, and has taken steps that appear to endorse this idea, Donald Trump has not publicly committed to this objective. Netanyahu's statements and Israel's military strategy, including "Operation Rising Lion," reflect a broader intent to weaken Iran's regime, even if regime change is not an official goal[1][2][8]. Trump, on the other hand, frames U.S. strikes as a targeted effort to curb Iran's nuclear capabilities, maintaining a focus on diplomacy and expressing hesitation about destabilizing the current leadership[3][2]. However, the coordinated military actions and Trump's shift from diplomacy to direct intervention indicate that both leaders' strategies could create conditions conducive to regime change, whether or not it is their stated aim. The extent to which this becomes a realized goal will likely depend on Iran's response and the unfolding dynamics of the conflict in the coming days.
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- https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/netanyahu-says-regime-change-iran-could-be-result-israels-attacks-2025-06-15/
- https://www.axios.com/2025/06/17/iran-regime-change-israel-war-trump
- https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/21/world/middleeast/us-bomb-iran-trump-war.html
- https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-hails-us-strikes-on-iran-first-comes-strength-then-comes-peace/
- https://time.com/7295726/netanyahu-trump-israel-iran-nuclear-strikes/
- https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/17/us/politics/trump-iran-israel-nuclear-talks.html
- https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2025/06/22/netanyahu-congratulates-trump-says-us-unsurpassed-after-bold-attack-on-iran-that-will-change-history_6742593_4.html
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etV3InsfRHM
- https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5361150-van-hollen-netanyahu-iran-war/
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