12.01.2026 15:01
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly instructed his ministers not to speak to the press regarding the possibility of an attack on Iran, as protests involving thousands of people have turned into violent incidents due to economic issues.
According to a report by Israel's state television KAN, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who announced that they are closely monitoring developments in Iran, warned cabinet members not to make statements to the press or share information regarding the possibility of conducting attacks on Iran again.
The report noted that the Tel Aviv administration continues to monitor the protests in Iran, which have turned into violent incidents, and to assess the situation, stating that the Netanyahu government believes the events are approaching a turning point in the "destabilization of the Iranian regime."
PROVOCATIVE CALLS FROM ISRAELI MINISTER CONTINUE
Despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's warnings to cabinet members to remain silent, Israeli Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Gila Gamliel, who frequently calls for regime change in Iran, shared statements from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the protests in Iran on her account on the American social media platform X.
In a post on his Truth Social account, President Trump stated, "Iran may be seeking freedom like never before. The U.S. is ready to help." Israeli Minister Gamliel is known to have a close relationship with the exiled son of the deposed Iranian Shah, Reza Pahlavi. Gamliel and Pahlavi met three times at the end of last year and this month. Pahlavi also visited Israel in 2023 at Gamliel's invitation as part of Holocaust memorial events.
PROTESTS IN IRAN
Protests initiated by shopkeepers in the Grand Bazaar of Tehran on December 28, 2025, due to the significant devaluation of the local currency against foreign currencies and economic problems, spread to many cities across the country.
While no official statement has been made regarding those who died or were injured in the protests, the Iran Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported on January 11 (the 15th day of the protests) that 544 people, including 37 security personnel and one prosecutor, as well as 8 children (under 18), had lost their lives, and 10,681 people had been detained.