After US-Israeli strikes, it’s time for regime change in Iran - opinion

With the recent large-scale US military actions against Iran seemingly winding down, the time is ripe for the next crucial phase: achieving regime change in the Islamic Republic. This opinion piece, penned by David M. Weinberg, argues that the ultimate neutralization of Iran's nuclear threat and the cessation of its oppressive actions can only be accomplished by removing the current Ayatollahs and Revolutionary Guards from power.

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With the large-scale US military action against Iran apparently winding down, it is time for stage two of the campaign against the radical Islamic Republic: knocking the Ayatollahs and the Revolutionary Guards out of power. Time for regime change.

The author posits that this objective is not only desirable but achievable, with the backing of international support and the inherent desire of millions of Iranians for change. While neither US President Trump nor Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu explicitly declared regime change as a goal of the recent military operations, their encouragement of Iranian protestors to reclaim their nation from what the piece describes as "genocidal, bloodthirsty thugs" signals a shared underlying objective.

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After all, only regime change can truly neutralize Iran’s nuclear threat for the long term, and only the Iranian people themselves can overturn the regime.

Weinberg outlines a multi-pronged strategy to support the emergence of a robust Iranian opposition. This includes an aggressive propaganda campaign via a dedicated anti-regime media outlet, training and arming opposition factions within Iran, and conducting targeted strikes against key IRGC and Basij commanders. Furthermore, the piece calls for continued degradation of Iran's proxy armies across the region and, crucially, the maintenance of the current oil and economic blockade without any sanctions relief or withdrawal of US forces.

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There is much that the US, Israel, and others can do to support the emergence of a muscular Iranian opposition movement.

From an Israeli perspective, as reflected in this opinion piece from The Jerusalem Post, the call for regime change in Iran is not a new or radical idea but a long-overdue necessity. The article implicitly references the legacy of figures like Uri Lubrani, an Israeli intelligence official who long advocated for such efforts. The piece frames the current moment as a critical opportunity, emphasizing that the Iranian people themselves are the ultimate agents of change, but require significant external support. This perspective highlights a deep-seated concern within Israel regarding Iran's nuclear ambitions and regional influence, viewing regime change as the most effective long-term solution, a viewpoint often distinct from the more cautious approaches seen in some Western capitals.

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Most important of all is the maintenance of the current oil and economic blockade on Iran, with no sanctions relief for the regime and no withdrawal of significant US military forces from the region.