Netanyahu's Call for Iranian Protests Rejected by Trump Due to High Risks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent proposal to encourage Iranian citizens to protest against their government was met with caution from U.S. President Donald Trump, according to Axios, citing two American officials and an Israeli source. According to Jin10, Trump expressed concerns during a phone call with Netanyahu, questioning the wisdom of inciting street protests that could lead to violence, asking, "Why should we call people to the streets and then watch them get shot?" The report highlights a divergence in perspectives between the U.S. and Israel regarding the approach to Iran's regime change. While both countries align on most military objectives in the ongoing conflict, they differ on the acceptable level of chaos and bloodshed to achieve regime change. Netanyahu has prioritized creating conditions for a popular uprising as a core goal, whereas U.S. officials indicate that Trump views regime change more as a potential bonus rather than a primary objective.