# Netanyahu Says Iran's Government Must Be Overthrown as Tehran Prepares for Renewed Strikes

Reports say President Donald Trump blocked an Israeli plan to resume the war before the Nov. 3 U.S. midterm elections, and Trump now says the conflict with Iran will be "done very soon."

- Published: 2026-10-23T05:16:29.344Z
- Canonical: https://polylog.news/2026-10-23/netanyahu-says-iran-s-government-must-be-overthrown-as-tehra
- Publisher: Polylog (Global desk)
- Section: geopolitics
- Sources: [Globes (Hebrew)](https://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1001560602#utm_source=RSS), [ZeroHedge](https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/netanyahu-idf-overthrow-iranian-regime), [IRNA (Farsi)](https://www.irna.ir/news/86300696/%DB%B1%DB%B7%DB%B7-%D9%85%D9%84%DA%A9-%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%84%D8%AA%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D9%85%D9%88%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%B2%DB%8C-%D8%B4%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C-%D8%B4%D8%AF)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that his directive to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is to "overthrow the regime in Iran," according to an [Antiwar.com report republished by ZeroHedge](https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/netanyahu-idf-overthrow-iranian-regime). [The Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/10/22/netanyahu-says-us-israel-must-topple-iranian-regime/) reported that the statement followed weeks of U.S. military preparations for possible further strikes on Iran after the midterm elections.

The timing is being set in Washington. Netanyahu ordered the military to prepare a renewed attack in early October, but Trump [opposed restarting the war before the midterms](https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/iran/2026-10-21/ty-article/report-trump-opposed-netanyahus-proposed-early-october-strikes-on-iran/000001a1-5cd6-d99f-a3e5-7df7c3350000), according to the Financial Times as cited by Haaretz and [Israel Hayom](https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/10/21/netanyahu-pushed-to-resume-strikes-on-iran-trump-blocked-offensive-ahead-of-us-midterms/). Persian-language coverage by [Euronews Persian](https://parsi.euronews.com/2026/10/14/trump-netanyahu-discuss-iran-strikes-before-elections-oct-2026) reported that the two leaders had discussed a major new operation before the Israeli and American elections. Trump told reporters that the war with Iran is ["going to be done very soon,"](https://tass.com/world/2206635) TASS reported, but he did not say whether he meant a negotiated deal or further strikes.

The Israeli business paper [Globes](https://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1001560602#utm_source=RSS) reported in Hebrew that Israel's security establishment is warning against statements "that would lead to a misreading of reality." It also reported that officials in Tehran assess that "a confrontation is certain and may break out even before the polls open," and that Trump has threatened to "keep hitting them." The same report described the conflict spreading to other fronts, with a series of Houthi missile and drone interceptions.

Iranian state media is publishing signs of fiscal strain at home. [IRNA reported](https://www.irna.ir/news/86300696/%DB%B1%DB%B7%DB%B7-%D9%85%D9%84%DA%A9-%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%84%D8%AA%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D9%85%D9%88%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%B2%DB%8C-%D8%B4%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C-%D8%B4%D8%AF) in Persian that the economy and finance directorate of Lorestan province has identified 177 state-owned properties for the government's asset-monetization program, "with the aim of making effective use of idle assets." The program raises revenue by selling or leasing state holdings, which a government does when it is short of income.

## What this means

The only constraint on a new round of strikes that anyone has stated is the American election calendar. Netanyahu wants regime change, but he needs U.S. aerial refueling, munitions and air defense to pursue it. Trump wants to avoid higher gasoline prices before Nov. 3. Once the vote passes, that constraint disappears. Iran's direct military capacity has been reduced, and its allied militias are now its main source of leverage, which explains the Houthi campaign against Saudi oil. Oil markets already price in the Houthi attacks. They do not clearly price in a defined window for renewed U.S.-Israeli strikes after the midterms. The consensus reads Trump's "done very soon" as a sign of de-escalation. The statement fits a short, intense military finish just as well. The desk's read: the risk of renewed strikes on Iran rises in the weeks after Nov. 3, and oil, Gulf equities and shipping insurance would reprice in that window. An announced U.S.-Iran negotiating framework before the election, with a date for talks, would show this read is wrong.

## What to watch

- Any U.S. announcement of talks with Iran before Nov. 3. A dated meeting would show that "done very soon" means a deal, not more strikes.
- Movements of U.S. refueling aircraft and carriers toward the Gulf after the midterms. These are the assets an Israeli campaign against Iran would need.
- More Iranian announcements of state asset sales and revenue measures. A faster pace would show that the war and sanctions are straining Tehran's budget.