Mossad chief signals regime change goal in Iran, tensions escalate

Tel Aviv: Israel's intelligence agency, Mossad, has stated that it will not completely halt its operations in Iran. Mossad Director David Barnea made this statement on Tuesday. He asserted that Israel's intelligence agency favored continuing its operations in Iran because it seeks nothing less than a regime change in Tehran. This statement from Israel poses a challenge not only to the rest of the world but also to its ally, the United States, as the Trump administration is currently attempting to end the conflict in Iran through diplomatic negotiations.

According to a report by *Turkey Today*, David was asked about reports suggesting that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had misled U.S. President Donald Trump by claiming that the Iranian government would collapse the moment military strikes began. He dismissed these claims as inaccurate, stating that their mission remains ongoing until the regime in Tehran is replaced.

'Iran's Radical Regime Will Be Replaced'

Barnea noted that Israel achieved several successes during the intense forty-day conflict—which spanned from February 28 to April 8—during which Israel significantly weakened its adversary. However, he acknowledged that their mission is not yet complete; the mission will remain unfinished as long as the Islamic regime remains in power in Tehran.

David Barnea further added, "We never assumed that the mission would be accomplished simply because the fighting subsided. We had certainly planned to continue our operations—and indeed, to sustain them throughout the post-conflict phase in Tehran. Our objective will only be fully realized once this radical regime has been replaced."

"We waged an intense campaign against Iran. We focused on countering the enemy's primary objective—namely, the destruction of the State of Israel—yet our mission remains unfinished." Our mission will certainly be fulfilled only when this radical regime is replaced.

David Barnea

Mossad's Role in Attacks on Tehran

Barnea claimed that the Mossad played a significant role in the attack carried out in Tehran on February 28. Barnea stated that the Israeli military spearheaded the attack, while the Mossad provided assistance. In the February 28 attack on Tehran—executed by the Israeli-American coalition—several prominent leaders were killed, including Iran's then-Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.

Tensions have long simmered between Israel and Iran. Israel and the United States launched airstrikes against Iran in June of last year; that conflict lasted for 12 days. Subsequently, starting February 28 of this year, Israel and the U.S. once again unleashed a war, subjecting Iran to heavy bombardment.

Israel to Continue Fighting!

Following widespread devastation across Iran, Israel, and the Gulf region, a two-week ceasefire went into effect on April 8. The United States and Iran have signaled a willingness to reach a ceasefire agreement through dialogue. Conversely, statements emanating from Israel consistently suggest that the nation is not in favor of halting hostilities and intends to continue the fighting.