Ex-Mossad chief: Iran regime will fall via operations, economic pressure, and protests

Iran's regime is destined to fall through a multifaceted strategy involving operations, economic pressure, and internal dissent, according to David Barnea, the recently retired chief of Israel's intelligence agency, Mossad. In his first public speech since stepping down in June, Barnea expressed support for the Trump administration's intensified economic sanctions against the Islamic Republic, deeming them a correct and praiseworthy decision.

However, Barnea emphasized that sanctions alone would be insufficient. He argued that escalating economic actions, policies, and operations against the regime would be unavoidable until its collapse. "There will be no choice, in my view, other than to escalate the economic actions, the policies, and the operations against the regime until it falls, and it will fall," Barnea stated.

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The decision to place the most severe sanctions on Iran was a correct and praiseworthy decision. But the sanctions are just another stage. There will be no choice, in my view, other than to escalate the economic actions, the policies, and the operations against the regime until it falls, and it will fall

Barnea also highlighted a global shift in understanding the threat posed by Tehran. He asserted that President Trump and much of the world now recognize the multiheaded danger Iran presents, encompassing nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles, and proxy terrorism. "Until Operation Roaring Lion, we felt that Iran was a problem for the State of Israel. Today, the whole world knows clearly that the Iranian saga is not solely our problem," he said.

Addressing the status of regional adversaries, Barnea reported that both Hezbollah and Hamas are considerably weaker than they were prior to the October 7, 2023, attack. He suggested that Mossad's covert operations had inflicted psychological damage on Hezbollah, while also crediting the IDF's military actions. Regarding Hamas, Barnea stated the organization is a shadow of its former self, no longer resembling the national military force it was in 2023 with its 24 highly organized battalions.

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Until Operation Roaring Lion, we felt that Iran was a problem for the State of Israel. Today, the whole world knows clearly that the Iranian saga is not solely our problem