Israel’s President Isaac Herzog has declared that Iran’s future can only be secured through a change of regime, as widespread protests continue to challenge the country’s clerical leadership despite a harsh crackdown.
Speaking on Thursday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Herzog said the Iranian people were demanding deep political reform after weeks of unrest that began over economic grievances and quickly expanded into a broader challenge to the theocratic system established in 1979.
“The Iranian people are yearning for change. The Iranian people deserve change,” Herzog said in an interview.
He added that the only viable path forward for Iran was a shift in leadership, stressing that such a transition must be driven by the Iranian people and supported by the international community.
“The future for the Iranian people can only be in a regime change, and that has to be within the realms of the Iranian people and the international community and its support,” he said.
The protests began in early January and intensified from January 8, with large crowds taking to the streets nationwide. Activists say the demonstrations have since weakened due to a severe security response and a nationwide internet shutdown that has curtailed communication and media reporting.
Herzog described the Iranian leadership as increasingly vulnerable and said the clerical establishment was under “significant pressure.”
“It’s clear to me that the Ayatollah regime is in quite a fragile situation,” he said.
Israel, which has long viewed Iran as a major threat, has publicly backed the protesters while insisting it does not plan to intervene directly. Earlier this month, Iran accused Israel of attempting to destabilise the country after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel stood “in solidarity with the struggle of the Iranian people.”
On Wednesday, Iranian authorities claimed that 3,117 people were killed during the protests that began in late December, a figure activists say is likely far higher.
Relations between Israel and Iran remain tense after last year’s 12-day conflict, during which Israel launched a series of strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and residential areas. Israel said the attacks were aimed at crippling Iran’s nuclear programme and ballistic missile capabilities.
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