Tel Aviv, Israel – The Israeli intelligence agency Mossad announced that its outgoing director, David Barnea, explicitly called for continued international and regional efforts to overthrow the Iranian regime and change the political reality in Tehran following the recent war. He emphasized that this endeavor is no longer a distant goal but has become a realistic and achievable strategic objective, given the current field and political realities.
Barnea’s sharp remarks came during an official ceremony marking his retirement and the end of his term as head of the Mossad. At the ceremony, he reviewed the most significant security and operational milestones achieved by the Mossad in confronting Iran’s regional ambitions.
In his address to the heads of the security services, Barnea said: “At the beginning of my tenure, I promised that Iran would never acquire a nuclear weapon. Now, with the Iranian government weakened and severely damaged by the recent strikes, the time has come to complete the mission.”
The former Mossad chief explained that recent developments have opened a previously unattainable door to destabilizing the regime in Tehran. He added, “I still firmly believe that changing the geopolitical reality in Iran by overthrowing the current government is a perfectly possible and achievable goal, but realizing it requires a combination of perseverance, calm, and strict adherence to the established plans.” In closing, Barnea stressed that the current lulls or understandings must not lead to a decrease in intelligence and military pressure. He asserted emphatically, “This mission must remain at the forefront of our security and diplomatic priorities in the coming period.”
These rare public statements by the outgoing Mossad chief reflect the contours of Israel’s new security doctrine toward Tehran. Intelligence circles in Tel Aviv believe that Iran’s allies in the region are now on the defensive, presenting the international community with an unprecedented opportunity to tighten the noose around the Iranian economy and support internal anti-government movements. The goal is to ensure the end of its nuclear ambitions and the complete dismantling of Tehran’s military influence networks.
