Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the foundations of Iran’s ruling system have been weakened and predicted that the Islamic Republic will eventually collapse.
Netanyahu made the remarks during a farewell ceremony for David Barnea, who completed his five-year term as director of Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad. Barnea had led the organization since 2021.
Netanyahu previously appointed his military secretary, Roman Gofman, as the new head of Mossad.
According to The Jerusalem Post, Barnea said during the ceremony that he had always been committed to preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and believed the mission was now entering a decisive stage.
The outgoing Mossad chief stated that Iran is currently experiencing one of its most vulnerable periods and argued that changing the situation through the overthrow of the current government remains an achievable objective.
Barnea added that persistence, discipline, and long-term commitment would be necessary to accomplish that goal.
Netanyahu praised Mossad’s role in a series of intelligence and security operations carried out in recent years against Israel’s adversaries, describing the agency as one of the world’s most effective intelligence organizations.
The Israeli prime minister also warned that any action threatening Israel’s security would be met with a strong response and claimed that Iran had already paid a significant price for its policies.
The remarks come at a time of heightened tensions between Iran and Israel, with both sides repeatedly accusing each other of military, intelligence, and security activities across the region.
Analysts say the simultaneous emphasis by Netanyahu and the former Mossad chief on political change in Iran reflects Israel’s continued strategy of maintaining maximum pressure on Tehran and limiting its regional influence.
The leadership transition at Mossad is also being closely watched by regional observers, who view intelligence operations as a central element of Israel’s long-term policy toward Iran and its allies.
