Will Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei be able to maintain his iron grip over Iran? Or will the ground realities of the country change, bringing the disenchantment of the masses, particularly youth, out in the open that may set the ball for regime change to roll? How the Shiite country that has suffered immense economic hardship due to the sanctions imposed by the US and the EU will come out of the war that has reached its doorsteps? The Islamic country is at a crossroads.

Why Does Israel Want Regime Change In Iran?

Many eyebrows were raised when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu talked about a regime change in a video message issued amid escalating tension in the Middle East after the killing of Iran-backed Hezbollah’s chief Hassan Nasrallah.

In the message addressed to the people of Iran, he slammed the “fanatic theocrats” who rule the country and said that “when Iran is finally free, and that moment will come a lot sooner than people think, everything will be different.”

As he is called in the area, Bibi said, “Our two ancient peoples, the Jewish people and the Persian people, will finally be at peace. Our two countries, Israel and Iran, will be at peace.”

Netanyahu said further, “There are tens of millions of decent and good people with thousands of years of history behind them and a brilliant future ahead of them.”

He also advised the Iranian masses, “Don’t let a small group of fanatic theocrats crush your hopes and dreams. You deserve better. Your children deserve better. The entire world deserves better.”

Psychological War Against Ali Khamenei

Does Bibi want to change the Shiite Islamic regime in the country that has been viewed as the enemy of the Jewish nation? Or is it a part of a psychological war by sending the message across the country and instigating the masses against the government at a time when it is staring at a war?

Iranian people’s disenchantment with the theological regime became clear in 2022 when tens of thousands of them came out on the roads and demonstrations were held across the country. 

Protests Erupt After Mahsa Amini’s Death

The massive protests that rocked the Iranian government were triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini on September 16, 2022, under suspicious circumstances. The 22-year-old woman was arrested by the Guidance Patrol, the religious morality police of Iran’s government, for allegedly not wearing the hijab properly.

Though the government claimed that she died of a heart attack, eyewitnesses, including women who were detained with Amini, said that she was severely beaten and that she died as a result of police brutality.

The theocratic government came down upon the protesters heavily, but the movement engulfed the entire country. Though the authorities never released an official death toll, Iran’s Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported that at least 530 protesters were killed by security forces. Besides, about 20,000 other protesters were reportedly arrested, including journalists, signers, film stars and football players.

Why Was Masoud Pezeshkian Elected President?

Masoud Pezeshkian, a liberal leader, was one of the prominent figures who criticised the government for the harsh crackdown on the protesters. He was eventually elected president in 2024. His election is considered as a symbolic protest of the masses. It can be seen as the beginning of the end of the government by the clerics.

Iran Behind ‘Axis of Resistance’

Iran is believed to be behind Lebanon-based militant outfit Hezbollah, Houthi fighters in Yemen, and anti-government Shiite militants in Syria. All these forces are fighting against Israel. It is believed that Tehran is fighting against Tel Aviv and these forces are just the facades.  The Houthis are considered to be a part of the so-called “Axis of Resistance” against Israel, the US, and the West.

Iran Fires Missiles At Israel

After the killing of Hezbollah’s General Secretary for 32 years, Iran fired hundreds of missiles into Israel, though most of them were intercepted and destroyed. Confirming the attack, Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said it intercepted most of the 180 rockets fired at the country.

Confirming the attack, Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said it intercepted most of the 180 rockets fired at the country.

Israel Threatens Iran

Reacting to the attack, Benjamin Netanyahu warned Tehran, saying it had “made a big mistake tonight, and would pay for it”. He said further that Iran “does not understand” his country’s “determination to retaliate” against its enemies. He said, “They will understand,” he says. “We will stand by the rule we established: whoever attacks us – we will attack them.”

At a time when the crisis has escalated, an internecine war is knocking at the door of Iran and the country is under a severe economic crisis, the psychological war will make things worse for the Islamic country. On the other hand, if Iran enters into an all-out war the Jewish state, the nationalistic fervour may be whipped and the masses may stand by the government. It is too early to predict what will happen next.