Israel Plans for New Raids Against Iran
Netanyahu tells journalists in a pre-election security briefing that toppling the Iranian regime is the only way to prevent nuclear reconstitution and Hezbollah revival, confirms he discussed this with Trump on Sunday, as Qatar confirms US-Iran negotiations are continuing
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, that Israel is committed to completing the elimination of the Iranian regime, describing it as the primary objective of the campaign, and confirmed he discussed this with President Donald Trump as recently as Sunday, in a pre-election security briefing to journalists nine days before Israeli parliamentary elections on October 27.
"We must complete the elimination of the Iranian regime, that is the main thing," Netanyahu declared. "I have discussed this with President Trump more than once, including the day before yesterday."
Netanyahu framed the objective in strategic terms. "As long as the Iranian regime remains in power, even if it is battered, wounded and beaten, it is so fanatical that it will try again to do what it did a year ago, and which we stopped them from doing: producing nuclear bombs and rebuilding the axis. Therefore, the only way to prevent this is to bring down this regime, and then the elimination of Hezbollah will follow," he said. "You sever it, and it will fall. We will also have peace with Lebanon."
Netanyahu also said there are indications that Iran and its proxies want to challenge Israel before the elections.
Trump's Endorsement
The briefing followed Trump's public endorsement of Netanyahu for the October 27 election, in which Trump called him a great warrior. Netanyahu released a video sharing the endorsement and wrote: "Together we are going to remove the Iranian threat forever." He told supporters: "We have crushed Iran," adding that their partnership "will continue in order to eliminate the Iranian threat over the next two years, or even sooner."
Netanyahu claimed Israel has completed 90 percent of the work to neutralize immediate threats, framing the remaining task as the removal of the Tehran regime itself.
The Strategic Gap With Washington
Netanyahu's public declaration of regime elimination as the primary objective places the Israeli position publicly to the right of the current American diplomatic track. Trump said Monday he is ready to halt military operations if Iran provides guarantees it will not obtain a nuclear weapon. Vice President Vance told CBS News Sunday the US is seeking a final and decisive commitment from Iran that it will not rebuild its nuclear programme. Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari confirmed Tuesday that negotiations between Iran and the US are continuing with the sides engaging in diplomatic efforts despite growing tensions.
Reuters separately reported Tuesday, citing sources, that senior Iranian officials say Tehran is prolonging talks with the US to try to weaken Trump politically ahead of the midterms. Defense Secretary Hegseth made a secret visit to Netanyahu on Monday, with the Pentagon and Israeli Embassy both declining to comment.