Israel's military campaign against Iran is giving its people a chance to topple the Islamic Republic, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Iran International, adding that the ruling system's days were numbered.
"A light has been lit—carry it to freedom,” Netanyahu told Iran International's anchor Pouria Zeraati on Monday.
“This is the time,” he said. “Your hour of freedom is near—it’s happening now.”
Netanyahu cast the Islamic Republic as an enduring threat to Israel through its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
“The tyrants of Tehran basically planned two weapons of mass death to exterminate Israel,” he said. “One is to rush forward with their nuclear program to develop atomic bombs to destroy Israel."
"Second, they've programmed to build a vast missile, ballistic missile arsenal … Each missile carrying a one-ton payload, just slamming into our cities, killing our women, our children. They were going to build 20,000 of these,” he added.
Netanyahu framed Israel’s ongoing campaign as both a defensive war and an opportunity for the leadership in Tehran to be overthrown.
“This is evil against good, and it's time for good people to stand up with the good, the good people of Iran, and good people everywhere against this madness foisted on all of us by this radical tyranny. It's about to end,” Netanyahu said.
Israeli attacks since Friday have killed 322 people and wounded 684, according to human rights group HRANA.
'They fear us, they fear you'
The Israeli premier suggested that the Islamic Republic’s military vulnerability could also hasten its political collapse.
“These dictators in Iran, sure they fear us—but they fear you, the people of Iran, even more,” he said. “They understand that 80 percent of Iranians despise them."
Netanyahu said Israel’s precision targeting had already knocked out key parts of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and missile production capabilities.
“(We) knocked out their chief nuclear team, their nuclear sites… we're knocking out their ballistic missile production,” he said. “We still have a way to go, but we’ll finish it.”
Drawing a contrast between Israel’s military conduct and Iran’s, Netanyahu said, “You can see that by the warnings that we are sending. The forewarnings that we're sending to the people of Tehran and elsewhere.
"It is necessary in order to have the people leave the zone of conflict. That's the whole difference between a terrorist regime that deliberately targets civilians in a democracy like Israel.”
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said earlier on the day that while Israel does not aim to harm civilians, residents of Tehran must evacuate areas near government and military sites that could be targeted.
An illustrated depiction of the Tehran evacuation zone published by the Israeli military encompassed an area around 30 square kilometers, an area home to several hundred thousand people.
Netanyahu said the people of Iran had suffered under the Islamic Republic and mentioned a young woman whose death in morality police custody sparked nationwide protests in 2022.
“They've impoverished you. They've given you misery. They've given you death. They've given you terror. They shoot down your women, leaving this brave, unbelievable woman, Mahsa Amini, to bleed on the sidewalk for not covering her hair. I mean, this is an outrageous radical fanatic regime, and the time has come to defang them.”
Netanyahu said Iran could be made "great again" and that Iran's people were its future.
“I believe in you. I respect you. I admire you. I know your achievements. I know your potential. I know that Iran can be great again. It was a great civilization, and these theological thuggery that has kidnapped your country, will not stand for long, and you are the future, not them.”
Israeli attacks targeted Iran’s foreign ministry, interior ministry and ministry of intelligence along with military targets across the capital Tehran and nationwide. Tehran’s historic bazaar was shut down as merchants evacuated.
US President Trump said it was time for a deal to end the hostilities but suggested letting Israel and Iran keep scrapping.
"Well I hope there's going to be a deal. I think it's time for a deal and we'll see what happens but sometimes they have to fight it out but we're going to see what happens. I think there's a good chance there will be a deal," he told reporters on Sunday.
Israeli attacks since Friday had killed 224 people and wounded 1,277, spokesman for Iran’s health ministry Hossein Kermanpour said on social media.
Four people were killed in the latest Iranian missile attacks on Israel's central region, medic service Magen David Adom said early on Monday local time. Live feeds showed several apparent missile impacts on the northern port city of Haifa as well.
Tehran exodus
Traffic volume also surged at major exit points from Tehran, including the Tehran-North highway, Tehran-Qom route, and Haraz road, police said on Sunday, amid escalating war between Iran and Israel.
Israel has approved a new strike plan designed to prompt a mass civilian exodus from Tehran by targeting sites linked to the Iranian government, the Jewish state's Channel 14 reported Sunday night.
Explosions were also reported near key locations including Niavaran, Kashavarz Boulevard, the vicinity of Azadi Stadium, and the Air Force area (Nirou-Havaei) in eastern Tehran.
More attacks struck around Fatemi Square -- where the Interior Ministry is located --Valiasr Square, and downtown intersections near Alaeddin shopping mall in Jomhouri street.
Iranians from neighborhoods such as Jannatabad, Shush, Saadatabad, Punak, Ekbatan, and Chitgarhave sent Iran International video confirming missile strikes and anti-aircraft fire throughout the capital.
Around the airport area and Mehrabad, drone activity and defensive fire were also reported.
Strikes all across Iran
Beyond Tehran, the nearby city of Karaj faced drone assaults, particularly around the Azimieh area, with residents reporting heavy smoke and continuous anti-aircraft defense activity from the nearby mountains.
In the northwest, officials in Tabriz confirmed drone incursions and defensive responses but denied any explosions.
An Israeli military spokesperson also said on Sunday that they also attacked Isfahan nuclear facility.
Warning of regional escalation
Meanwhile a veteran commander mooted regional conflict and a possible eventual resort to nuclear weapons.
"Iran may be forced to take actions that could destabilize the entire region," Mohsen Rezaei, the IRGC general who commanded Iranian forces during the Iran-Iraq war, told the state TV.
Rezaei, once again seen wearing his military uniform, warned that Iran might have to cross its own red lines.
"For now, we have no plans to move towards nuclear weapons," Rezaei said.
Communications disrupted
Internet services have been disrupted in many Iranian cities, with users reporting severe difficulties accessing social media platforms like Instagram and messaging apps such as WhatsApp.
Videos shared on social media showed simultaneous fires at the Shohran oil depot and the Shahr-e Rey refinery near Tehran, with flames continuing for hours after the initial strikes overnight.
‘We have yet to strike all targets,’ Israeli military says
An Israeli military official said that a long list of Iranian targets remains untouched. Since June 13, the Israeli military has conducted approximately 170 airstrikes, striking over 720 sites across Iran.
Israel also issued a warning on Sunday, urging Tehran residents near weapons production centers to evacuate.
As the strikes continue, sounds of explosions and anti-aircraft gunfire remain frequent across Tehran and other cities.
