Israel stands with the people of Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Monday, warning that the Islamic Republic’s support for regional terrorism is driving Iran “closer to the abyss.”
Addressing “the noble Persian people” directly in a video statement, the Israeli leader said that the Iranian regime’s malign activities push “our region deeper into darkness and deeper into war” every day.
“Every day, their puppets are eliminated. Ask Mohammed Deif. Ask [Hassan] Nasrallah. There is nowhere in the Middle East Israel cannot reach,” Netanyahu continued, in reference to the top Hamas and Hezbollah terrorists killed in recent Israel Defense Forces strikes in Gaza and Lebanon, respectively.
“Every day, you see a regime that subjugates you, make fiery speeches about defending Lebanon, defending Gaza,” the premier said. “The vast majority of Iranians know their regime doesn’t care a whit about them.”
According to Netanyahu, the Islamic regime will inevitably fall, and Iranians will regain their freedom “a lot sooner than people think.
“Our two ancient peoples, the Jewish people and the Persian people, will finally be at peace,” he said, adding that “when that day comes, the terror network that the regime built in five continents will be bankrupt, dismantled; Iran will thrive as never before.
“Global investment. Massive tourism. Brilliant technological innovation based on the tremendous talents that exists inside Iran. Doesn’t that sound better than endless poverty, repression and war?” he asked.
Netanyahu added that there are “tens of millions of good and decent people with thousands of years of history behind them and a brilliant future ahead of them” throughout the Islamic Republic’s 31 provinces.
“Don’t let a small group of fanatic theocrats crush your hopes and your dreams. You deserve better. Your children deserve better. The entire world deserves better,” he said.
“I know you don’t support the rapists and murderers of Hamas and Hezbollah, but your leaders do. You deserve more. The people of Iran should know: Israel stands with you,” Netanyahu concluded his remarks.
Earlier on Monday, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that Friday’s targeted killing of Hezbollah leader Nasrallah in Beirut is a “very important” achievement but is only one of the country’s planned moves against the Islamic Republic’s ring of fire surrounding the Jewish state.
“We will employ all the capabilities at our disposal, and if someone on the other side did not understand what those capabilities entail, we mean all capabilities, and you are part of this effort,” Gallant told IDF soldiers. “We trust you to accomplish every mission at hand.”
The Biden administration is concerned that Tehran could strike Israel in response to Nasrallah’s death. A U.S. official told CNN that Israel and the United States are preparing for a joint defense against Iran, while not specifying the type of attack expected from Tehran.
On April 13, the Islamic Republic conducted its first-ever direct attack on the Jewish state, launching some 300 missiles and drones at Israel, the vast majority of which were shot down in a multinational effort.
