Netanyahu calls for overthrow of Iranian regime days before Israeli election

Iran warns of 'zero red lines' retaliation against Gulf infrastructure if strikes resume

By LineZotpaper

Published22 October 2026

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed the country's military and security agencies to overthrow the Iranian regime, warning the current government in Tehran represents an 'existential threat.' The directive was issued at an IDF graduation ceremony days before a critical parliamentary election, signaling a dramatic escalation in rhetoric and military posture.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a forceful directive to the country's military and security agencies calling for the overthrow of the Iranian regime. Speaking at an Israel Defense Forces graduation ceremony, Netanyahu argued that as long as Iran's current leadership remains, Israel faces an existential threat. 'There is only one way to remove this threat once and for all,' he said.

The statement comes days before a critical parliamentary election on October 27, the first since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. Many analysts view the vote as a litmus test on Netanyahu's leadership, including his handling of the wars in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. By focusing on the Iranian threat, Netanyahu is deploying a familiar playbook to rally support for his Likud party.

The United States has appeared to align with the escalation. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made a surprise visit to Ovda Air Base in southern Israel this week, meeting with Netanyahu. US officials told the New York Times that joint strikes against Iran are expected to resume after the US midterm elections next month. President Donald Trump echoed Netanyahu's stance, describing Iran as an 'Evil Regime' on Truth Social.

In response, Iran has issued stark warnings. Mehdi Mohammadi, an advisor to top Iranian negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, characterised the prospect of renewed conflict as an existential threat. 'The third war in two years means a threat to existence. Our strategy is zero red lines,' he said. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's security council, warned that fresh US-Israeli attacks would result in Iranian strikes on oil facilities, undersea cables, data centers, and artificial intelligence facilities across as many as seven Persian Gulf countries.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The conflict risks expanding beyond Israel and Iran into a direct conflagration threatening energy and digital infrastructure across the entire Persian Gulf region.
Election cycles in both Israel and the United States are acting as catalysts for military decision-making, with major implications for the timing and scale of any attack.
A strike on undersea cables and data centers would represent a novel and severe disruption to global communications and data storage.

Background

The current escalation is the latest chapter in a decades-long shadow war between Israel and Iran. Netanyahu has for years described Iran's existence as a threat to Israel's security, citing its nuclear program and its arming of proxies. The Oct 7, 2023 attack by Hamas triggered devastating Israeli military campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon, drawing in Iranian-backed forces. Domestically, Netanyahu faces a deeply contested election that will serve as a referendum on his handling of the conflict.

Key Perspectives

Benjamin Netanyahu / Israeli Government: Argues the Iranian regime must be removed to guarantee Israel's security. Positions this as the primary national objective and a central campaign issue ahead of the vote. Iranian Government: Views any new conflict as a direct threat to the regime's existence. Warns of an unprecedented, broad-spectrum retaliation targeting not just military assets but critical civilian infrastructure across the Gulf. United States: Signals close coordination with Israel through joint exercises and high-level visits. Leaks indicate strikes are planned after the midterms, while presidential rhetoric reinforces the regime change objective.

What to Watch

The outcome of the Oct 27 Israeli election and whether it strengthens Netanyahu's hand to pursue major military action.
The US midterm elections in November and whether they provide the political cover for the anticipated resumption of joint strikes.
The operational readiness of Iranian forces to execute the threatened strikes on energy and digital infrastructure across the Gulf.

Sources

Netanyahu Calls on Israel to Overthrow Iranian Regime · Foreign Policy

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 8 supported.

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SupportedNetanyahu called for overthrow of the Iranian regime days before the Israeli election.Foreign Policy: “Netanyahu gave a forceful directive to the country’s military and security agencies just days before a critical parliamentary election. His message: overthrow the Iranian regime.”
Partly supportedIran warned of ‘zero red lines’ retaliation against Gulf infrastructure if strikes resume.Foreign Policy: ““Our strategy is ‘zero red lines.’””
SupportedNetanyahu directed Israel’s military and security agencies to overthrow the Iranian regime.Foreign Policy: “Netanyahu gave a forceful directive to the country’s military and security agencies just days before a critical parliamentary election. His message: overthrow the Iranian regime.”
SupportedNetanyahu argued that Iran’s current leadership remaining in power poses an existential threat to Israel.Foreign Policy: “arguing that as long as Iran’s current leadership remains, Israel faces an “existential threat.””
SupportedNetanyahu said, “There is only one way to remove this threat once and for all.”Foreign Policy: ““There is only one way to remove this threat once and for all,” Netanyahu told new officers of the Israel Defense Forces at their graduation ceremony on Wednesday”
Partly supportedThe directive signalled a dramatic escalation in rhetoric and military posture.Foreign Policy: “Israeli forces have stepped up training exercises with the United States to double down on this messaging.”
SupportedThe parliamentary election is on October 27 and is the first since Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.Foreign Policy: “with Netanyahu’s Likud party facing a crucial parliamentary vote on Oct. 27”
Partly supportedMany analysts see the vote as a litmus test of Netanyahu’s leadership, including his handling of the wars in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran.Foreign Policy: “Many analysts see the vote as a litmus test on Netanyahu’s leadership, including his handling of the deadliest attack on Israeli soil since its founding and his headstrong approach to some of the world’s biggest institutions”
SupportedMohammadi said, “The third war in two years means a threat to existence. Our strategy is zero red lines.”Foreign Policy: ““The third war in two years means a threat to existence. Our strategy is ‘zero red lines.’””
Partly supportedThe United States appeared to align with the escalation.Foreign Policy: “Israeli forces have stepped up training exercises with the United States to double down on this messaging.”
SupportedU.S. officials told the New York Times that joint strikes against Iran are expected to resume after next month’s U.S. midterm elections.Foreign Policy: “On Wednesday, U.S. officials told the New York Times that joint strikes against Iran are expected to resume after the U.S. midterm elections next month.”
SupportedRezaei warned that fresh U.S.-Israeli attacks would result in strikes on infrastructure across as many as seven Persian Gulf countries.Foreign Policy: “Mohsen Rezaei, the secretary of Iran’s security council, added that fresh U.S.-Israeli attacks will result in Iranian strikes on oil facilities, undersea cables, data centers, and artificial intelligence facilities across as many as seven Persian Gulf countries.”