Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, that Israel remains 'committed' to overthrowing Iran's government, adding that he had discussed this objective with US President Donald Trump as recently as Sunday. The remarks, delivered during a public address at a university in northern Israel, represent one of Netanyahu's most explicit statements of intent toward Tehran ahead of Israel's national elections next week.

Netanyahu's Remarks in Full Context

'We must complete the overthrow of the Iranian regime. That is the main thing. I have discussed this with President Trump more than once, including two days ago,' Netanyahu said. He further argued that toppling the Iranian government would simultaneously lead to the 'elimination of Hezbollah' and pave the way for peace with Lebanon.

The statement came shortly after Trump endorsed Netanyahu for re-election on Sunday, ahead of the 27 October Israeli legislative election. Netanyahu has made his close personal ties with Trump a central plank of his campaign, framing their partnership as indispensable to confronting Iran.

Hegseth's Unannounced Israel Visit

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth made an unannounced visit to Israel on Monday, meeting with Netanyahu at a military base in southern Israel, according to Israeli Army Radio. The Pentagon did not formally announce the visit, and Hegseth's office initially declined to comment on the reports.

Following the reports, Hegseth posted on X that he had visited US troops serving under the US Central Command (CENTCOM), sharing photographs from the trip. 'As always, it was an honour to visit our warfighters in CENTCOM today. The best of our country, on a historic mission. Godspeed,' he wrote. Netanyahu's office did not immediately respond to queries about the meeting.

Electoral Timing and Regional Stakes

The timing of Netanyahu's remarks is significant. Last week, he stated he did not favour a preemptive strike on Iran before the 27 October election, explicitly rejecting accusations from political rivals that he was engineering a military confrontation for electoral advantage. Critics argue the sharp rhetoric, delivered days before polling, serves a domestic political purpose regardless of strategic intent.

Netanyahu has a documented record of calls for regime change in Tehran. During the 12-day war in 2025, he told Iranians their 'hour of freedom is near', and renewed that call when Israel and the United States launched another offensive in February of this year.

What Comes Next

With Israeli elections scheduled for 27 October and US-Israel security coordination visibly intensifying — underscored by Hegseth's unannounced visit — regional tensions are likely to remain elevated in the near term. Whether the rhetoric translates into concrete military planning remains unclear; no official US position on regime change in Iran has been publicly confirmed by the White House or the Pentagon.