Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has likened Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to a “modern Hitler” and hinted at efforts to support regime change in Iran, as regional tensions continue to escalate.

In an interview aired by Israeli television, Netanyahu invoked the legacy of Cyrus the Great, the Persian ruler who freed the Jews from Babylonian captivity, suggesting a modern reversal of roles.

“Cyrus freed the Jews, and today the Jewish state might free the Persians,” Netanyahu said, according to the Times of Israel. While clarifying that regime change is not the stated goal of Israel’s ongoing military campaign — dubbed Operation Rising Lion — he acknowledged that the current conflict may create the conditions for such a shift.

“In the end, they have to rise up themselves,” Netanyahu added. “But we are creating the conditions — and that’s why it could be consequential.”

The Prime Minister further claimed that “80%” of Iranians oppose the Khamenei-led regime, and confirmed Israel plans to strike additional regime-related facilities. He emphasized the broader regional implications, predicting a “different Middle East” with strengthened ties between Israel and Arab nations, particularly through the expansion of the Abraham Accords.

“The Arab world has opened up to us — and the threat we face now is Iran. It’s either us or them,” he stated.

Reza Pahlavi Calls for Nationwide Uprising

Meanwhile, Reza Pahlavi, exiled crown prince and son of the late Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, issued a fiery call for a national uprising, declaring the Islamic Republic to be on the brink of collapse.

In a message posted on X, Pahlavi, 64, said: “The Islamic Republic has reached its end. Khamenei, like a frightened rat, has gone into hiding and lost control. What has begun is irreversible.”

Living in exile near Washington, D.C., since 2001, Pahlavi appealed directly to Iranians to unite, reassuring them that a transitional roadmap is in place:
“Don’t fear instability. We are ready for the first 100 days. This will be a government by the Iranian people, for the Iranian people.”

He also urged military and government officials to avoid aligning with the regime:
“Do not sacrifice yourselves for a dying regime. Stand with the people, and you can save your lives.”

U.S. and Trump Enter the Fray

Pahlavi’s comments come just days after former U.S. President Donald Trump demanded Iran’s “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER” in a Truth Social post, claiming he knows Khamenei’s whereabouts but adding, “We’re not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now.”

“Our patience is wearing thin,” Trump warned.

The White House later confirmed that Netanyahu and Trump held a phone conversation on Tuesday, though details of the call have not been disclosed.