Israel Not Seeking Regime Change In Iran, Says Foreign Minister Sa’ar

Speaking early Sunday, he warned that Iran’s military response would continue if, as he described it, Israeli aggression does not cease.

“On the first night of our attack on Israel, we targeted only military objectives,” Araghchi said. “But since last night, we have hit economic targets and Israeli refineries.”

He defended Iran’s actions as legitimate self-defence, accusing Israel of crossing a red line by targeting Iranian nuclear facilities. Araghchi described Israel’s strikes on refineries and the energy hub of Asaluyeh as a “strategic mistake” and warned that further escalation in the Persian Gulf could risk triggering a wider global conflict.

The foreign minister also directed sharp criticism at Washington, accusing the United States of actively supporting Israel’s military campaign. “The US should clearly and publicly oppose Israel’s attacks, not just in private messages,” he said.

“We do not accept Washington’s claim that it is uninvolved in these attacks. We have evidence to the contrary,” he added, insisting that Iran would not agree to any deal that limits its access to nuclear energy.

The report states that Hejazi, along with several other senior Islamic Republic officials, is preparing contingency plans in the event of a significant deterioration in Iran’s internal situation.

A senior Russian official has allegedly assured Hejazi that, if necessary, arrangements would be made to evacuate him and his family through a secure corridor.

Sources also indicate that similar assurances have been given to other high-ranking Iranian officials, with some said to be in the final stages of planning their departure from the country.

Iranian authorities have not publicly responded to the report, and the claims could not be independently verified.

In a video message released amid escalating regional tensions and deadly Israeli airstrikes on Iranian cities, Pahlavi declared that the regime’s collapse could only be brought about by the collective action of the Iranian people.

“Iran belongs to you, and reclaiming it is in your hands,” he said, addressing Iranians directly.

Pahlavi encouraged citizens to participate in non-violent forms of resistance, including not showing up for work, reducing productivity, or arriving late to their jobs, suggesting such acts of non-cooperation could hasten the regime’s downfall.

He also appealed to members of Iran’s police and security forces, urging them to break ranks with the Islamic Republic and join the people.

Pahlavi, who resides in exile, has long been a vocal critic of the Iranian regime. In his message, he expressed confidence that national unity and civil resistance would ultimately bring about change.

According to reports published by Iranian state media on Saturday, the jets were intercepted and downed by Iranian air defence systems. The Iranian army stated that the fate of the pilots remains unknown.

“The aircraft were detected, tracked, and brought down within Iranian territory,” the army said in a brief statement. Further details, including the location and timing of the alleged incident, were not provided.

The F-35 stealth fighter is a state-of-the-art aircraft developed by the United States and used by several allied countries, including Israel.

As of Saturday, Israeli officials have not commented on the Iranian claims, and the report has not been independently verified.

The announcement was made on Saturday via the army’s Persian-language account on X, under the headline “Eliminations in the First Strike.”

According to the statement, the individuals targeted were among the Islamic Republic’s top military and technical personnel, including several holding high-ranking command positions. Those named include senior figures such as Amir Ali Hajizadeh, Hossein Bagheri, Davoud Gholamreza Soleimani, and Hossein Salami.

The Israeli military alleged that many of those killed were closely involved in Iran’s nuclear programme, describing them as key contributors with decades of combined experience in nuclear weapons development. It further stated that they worked within scientific and technical institutions affiliated with the programme.

The strikes represent a significant escalation in the ongoing hostilities between Israel and Iran, following weeks of heightened military tensions.