Israel's Mossad promised it could ignite regime change in Iran, says report

Israel's Mossad promised it could ignite regime change in Iran, says report Submitted by MEE staff on Mon, 03/23/2026 - 14:39 Mossad promises helped Netanyahu convince Trump Islamic Republic could be toppled, reports New York Times US President Donald Trump (R) greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) upon arrival at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, on 29 December 2025 (Jim Watson/AFP) Off Israel ’s intelligence agency Mossad had a plan to ignite public protests that would lead to the collapse of Iran ’s government, the New York Times has reported . David Barnea, Mossad’s chief, met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu days before the US and Israel began their war on Iran and told him that the agency would be able to galvanise Iranian opposition in order to bring about regime change. Barnea, according to the report, which cites interviews with US and Israeli officials, also presented this proposal to senior US officials during a visit to Washington in mid-January.