Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is closely monitoring the escalating unrest in Iran and wishes peace and prosperity to the Iranian people. He described the current situation as a “yoke of tyranny” and said Israel and the world respect the courage of the protesters.In a video of the weekly Cabinet meeting released by his office, Netanyahu said: “We all hope that the Persian nation will soon be freed from the yoke of tyranny, and when that day comes, Israel and Iran will once again be faithful partners in building a future of prosperity and peace for both peoples.”“Israel is closely monitoring events in Iran,” he added. “The people of Israel and the entire world are in awe of the tremendous courage of the Iranian citizens.”Foreign Minister Gideon Saar also took up the Israeli Prime Minister’s statement in a video that he later recordedHe further expressed that Israel has a “huge problem” with the Iranian regime and accused Iran of being an exporter of terrorism and radicalism.“We have no animosity toward the Iranian people. We have a huge problem that is not just our problem, but a regional and international problem with the Iranian regime, which is the largest exporter of terrorism and radicalism. We just heard what the Americans described about what they did in Venezuela. It is a truly evil regime.”The comments came as Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a meeting focused on Iran’s civil unrest and discussed possibilities for U.S. intervention in the matter. Although details of the discussion were not disclosed, Israeli officials said coordination with Washington remained “critical.”Earlier, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned on Sunday that “both the occupied territories and US military and shipping centers will be our legitimate targets” if the United States attacks Iran. An Israeli military official later said the army was “preparing defensively” and was ready to respond if necessary.The United States has not signaled any plans for imminent action, but tensions have risen sharply since Iran accused Washington and Israel of fomenting nationwide protests aimed at destabilizing Iran.Iran has been hit by deadly demonstrations for days, initially sparked by rising living costs but quickly expanding into broader anti-government protests challenging the theocratic leadership that has ruled since 1979. Authorities blamed foreign interference, while protesters demanded sweeping political changes.
