Israel Denies Regime Change Goal in Iran as Leaders Call for Global Action Against Tehran’s Nuclear Program

Key Points

• Israeli President Isaac Herzog has stated that regime change in Iran is not an official objective, focusing instead on eliminating Iran's nuclear program.

• While he acknowledges regime change could be a possible outcome, the evidence leans toward the nuclear program being the primary goal.

• There is some controversy, as other Israeli officials have suggested regime change might result from military actions, but Herzog's position is clear on the stated goal.

Background

Israeli President Isaac Herzog recently addressed Israel's stance on Iran, emphasizing the focus on dismantling Iran's nuclear capabilities rather than pursuing regime change. This statement comes amid heightened tensions and military actions, with Herzog clarifying Israel's intentions in public remarks.

Herzog's Statement

Herzog explicitly denied that regime change is the goal, stating in an interview with CNBC that it is "not an official objective of ours," and the aim is "to remove the Iranian nuclear program"

. This aligns with reports from multiple news outlets and X posts, reinforcing his position.

Context and Controversy

While Herzog's statements focus on the nuclear program, he has also suggested that military actions could weaken Iran's regime to the point of collapse, potentially benefiting regional stability. This creates a nuanced picture, but Herzog's denial is consistent across recent reports.

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Survey Note: Detailed Analysis of Herzog's Statements on Iran

Israeli President Isaac Herzog's recent statements regarding Israel's policy toward Iran have garnered significant attention, particularly in the context of escalating tensions and military actions. This note provides a comprehensive analysis of Herzog's remarks, focusing on his denial of pursuing regime change and his emphasis on eliminating Iran's nuclear program, while also exploring the broader context and potential implications.

Herzog's Explicit Denial of Regime Change

On June 18, 2025, Herzog made a clear statement during an interview with CNBC's Dan Murphy, asserting that regime change in Iran is "not an official objective of ours." He further clarified that the primary goal is "to remove the Iranian nuclear program," underscoring Israel's focus on neutralizing what it perceives as an existential threat

This denial was further supported by news reports, such as an article from News.az, which noted that while Herzog sees a chance for regime change, he emphasized that "Israel's main goal is focused on eliminating Iran's nuclear program"

. These consistent reports, published within the last 24 hours as of June 19, 2025, at 12:30 PM PDT, provide strong evidence for Herzog's stance.

Acknowledgment of Potential Regime Change Outcomes

Despite his denial of pursuing regime change, Herzog has acknowledged that military actions could have broader implications. In an interview highlighted by NPR, he suggested that the ongoing war could "weaken Iran's regime so much that it may even fall," potentially changing the region's dynamics and ending conflicts like the Gaza war

This duality—denying regime change as a goal while acknowledging it as a potential result—creates a layered understanding of Herzog's position. It suggests that while Israel's stated policy is focused on the nuclear threat, the broader geopolitical consequences are not entirely dismissed.

Context of Recent Military Actions

Herzog's statements come in the context of recent military planning and actions against Iran. NPR reported that Herzog mentioned Israel had been planning attacks on Iran for months, with the decision to act made only a few days ago, driven by intelligence shared with the U.S. showing Iran's plans to produce a nuclear weapon

. This intelligence-sharing, however, did not result in U.S. approval or cooperation, highlighting the unilateral nature of Israel's approach. Herzog's call for international support to "eradicate Iran's nuclear program" further underscores the urgency and focus on this issue, describing Iran as an "empire of evil" in strong terms.

Comparison with Other Israeli Officials

While Herzog's position is clear, there is some divergence in rhetoric from other Israeli officials, particularly Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Reports from Axios and Reuters indicate that Netanyahu has suggested regime change could be a result of Israel's military actions, with statements made on Fox News indicating openness to this outcome

. For instance, Axios noted that Netanyahu "openly stated on Fox News on Sunday that the war could bring regime change to Iran," published two days ago. This creates a contrast, as Herzog's denial is more definitive, while Netanyahu's remarks are more ambiguous, potentially reflecting internal policy debates or differing emphases within the Israeli government.

Implications and Controversy

The distinction between Herzog's denial and the broader discourse around regime change highlights a potential controversy. While Herzog's statements are focused and clear, the acknowledgment of regime change as a possible outcome, combined with Netanyahu's remarks, suggests that the issue is not entirely settled. This nuance is important for understanding Israel's strategy, as it balances immediate security concerns (the nuclear program) with long-term geopolitical goals (weakening Iran's regime). The controversy is further evidenced by X posts and news articles debating Israel's intentions, with some, like @corpheart1, criticizing Herzog's claims about Iran's nuclear program

.

To organize this complexity, the following table summarizes key statements from Herzog and contrasts them with Netanyahu's remarks:

Figure	Statement on Regime Change	Focus on Nuclear Program	Source
Isaac Herzog	Denied pursuing, not an "official objective"; could be a result	Primary goal is to "remove the Iranian nuclear program"	CNBC, NPR
Benjamin Netanyahu	Suggested regime change could result from military actions	Iran cannot retain nuclear or missile threat	Axios, Reuters

This table illustrates the divergence, with Herzog's denial being more explicit, while Netanyahu's statements leave room for interpretation.

Conclusion

In summary, Israeli President Isaac Herzog has explicitly denied pursuing regime change in Iran, emphasizing that the goal is to eliminate Iran's nuclear program, as confirmed by recent interviews and reports from CNBC, NPR, and X posts. While he acknowledges that military actions could lead to regime change, this is not the stated objective, creating a nuanced but clear position. The contrast with Netanyahu's remarks highlights some internal variation, but Herzog's statements, made within the last 24 hours as of June 19, 2025, at 12:30 PM PDT, provide a definitive answer to the focus of Israel's current policy. This analysis ensures a comprehensive understanding, balancing direct quotes, contextual reports, and potential controversies.

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Key Citations

• Israeli president denies pursuing regime change in Iran

• Israel's Herzog calls on world to help destroy Iran nuclear

• Israel wants regime change in Iran, Trump is unconvinced

• Netanyahu says regime change in Iran could be result of Israel's attacks

• Iran regime change not our goal, says Israel's Herzog

• A man waits in the shadows for the Iranian regime change

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