US President Donald Trump reportedly rejected a proposal last week by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to jointly call on the Iranian public to grab to the streets and attempt to topple the regime during the ongoing war against Iran, due to concerns about potential bloodshed.
Differing Approaches to Regime Change
The reported disagreement highlights differing perspectives between Israel and the United States regarding the extent to which regime change should be a goal of the conflict. Netanyahu ultimately issued a less direct call for Iranians to protest, encouraging them to participate in the annual Persian Fire Festival.
According to reports from senior American officials and an Israeli source, Netanyahu argued that the Iranian regime was in chaos following the assassinations and that a joint call for public uprising would further destabilize the country. Trump, however, reportedly expressed concern that such a call could lead to a violent crackdown by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, citing previous instances of mass casualties during anti-regime protests earlier in the year, where activist groups estimate thousands may have been killed.
“Why the hell should we tell people to take to the streets when they’ll just acquire mowed down,” Trump reportedly said to Netanyahu.
The two leaders agreed to reassess the situation the following day, coinciding with the Persian Fire Festival, a holiday often associated with public gatherings and, at times, anti-regime demonstrations. Netanyahu subsequently urged Iranians to celebrate the festival, stating that recent actions had “knocked out two of the terrorist chieftains” and were intended to “enable the brave people of Iran to celebrate the Festival of Fire.” No mass demonstrations materialized.
While Netanyahu appears to view creating conditions for regime change as a core objective, US officials have indicated that Trump sees toppling the regime as a potential “bonus.” Trump reportedly believes that the deaths and replacements of Iranian leaders already constitute a form of “regime change.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted the discussion between Trump and Netanyahu?
The discussion occurred hours after Israel assassinated Ali Larijani and Gholamreza Soleimani on March 17.
What was Trump’s primary concern regarding a joint call for protests?
Trump reportedly feared that a call for protests would lead to mass bloodshed at the hands of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
What is the Persian Fire Festival, and why was it relevant to this situation?
The Persian Fire Festival, Chaharshanbe Suri, is a traditional holiday often marked by public gatherings and, at times, anti-regime protests.
Given these differing perspectives, what impact might this divergence have on the future course of the conflict with Iran?