Israel's Strike on Iran Goes Beyond Nuclear Program: True Goal Is Regime Collapse

Israel’s unprecedented airstrike on Iran early Friday raised serious questions about Tel Aviv’s real objectives—are they limited to destroying Tehran’s nuclear program, or do they aim at something much bigger?

According to Israeli affairs expert Dr. Muhannad Mustafa, the attack reflects a long-term Israeli strategy not just to neutralize Iran’s nuclear ambitions, but to weaken and eventually topple the Iranian regime.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Mustafa stated, “If Israel's only goal was to target the nuclear program, it would have focused solely on those facilities.” Instead, he noted, the strikes also targeted key military and strategic infrastructure.

Mustafa believes Israel’s current objective is to erode Iran’s internal and regional standing, especially after two years of attacks against Iranian proxy forces across the Middle East.

He likened the current Israeli strategy to its past approach against Hezbollah in Lebanon—start by eliminating key leaders, then move on to dismantling the central power structure.

Before October 7, 2023, Israel often struck both the center and proxies simultaneously. Since then, it has shifted focus to degrading the proxies first, before turning to the core.

Mustafa argued that Israel is ready to bear the cost of the attack, considering it a necessary price to eliminate Iran’s nuclear threat, especially amid national consensus around the operation.

He concluded that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—wanted by the International Criminal Court—had long awaited such a moment, and has now realized part of his political and historical ambition.

Strike Details

The Israeli military announced that the early Friday strikes targeted nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories, air defense systems, and senior IRGC commanders.

Prime Minister Netanyahu called it a “defining moment in Israel’s history,” affirming the goal was to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant declared that the army had achieved “a significant success” by striking IRGC leaders, army officials, intelligence chiefs, and nuclear scientists.

According to Reuters, 20 top Iranian military leaders, including Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri and IRGC Commander Hossein Salami, were reportedly killed in the strikes.

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