Netanyahu says 'toppling' Iran government only way to end threat

DIMONA, Israel - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Wednesday that the sole means to eradicate Iran's menace was to overthrow its government. Iran sought to annihilate Israel; they were thwarted. Iran aimed to craft nuclear weapons; they were prevented... Nonetheless, they continue, he asserted at an election rally in the southern town of Dimona.

Thus, the only recourse to cease this is by toppling this regime. This directive has been issued to the Israel Defense Forces, the Mossad, and all security agencies, he added, without disclosing when or how this directive would be implemented. The inflammatory remarks emerged as the premier entered the final week of a close re-election campaign.

Netanyahu had directed the Israeli military to prepare for potential strikes against Iran earlier in the month, according to sources reported by the Financial Times on Wednesday, but US President Donald Trump reportedly disapproved of the notion. The US leader has openly stated that he does not plan to reignite the conflict, which Washington initiated in February alongside Israel, prior to the U.S. midterm elections.