Herzog: Our goal is to change the Middle East and we are not in the process of a ground invasion of Iran

SadaNews - Israeli President Isaac Herzog stated that the aim of the ongoing military operations against Iran is to achieve what he termed "changing the Middle East," explaining that this includes incapacitating Tehran's ability to develop nuclear weapons and stopping its support for "global terrorism," while also confirming that Israel is not calling for a ground intervention.

In an interview with CBS News, Herzog considered that Israel and the United States had "no great choice" but to move and strike Iran, stating, "It is time for everyone to tell Iran: Guys, we are tired, and this has to change."

In response to a question regarding the objectives of the war, Herzog clarified that changing the regime in Tehran is "not necessarily" the main goal, but rather "changing the Middle East" by ending the nuclear threat and stopping the funding of its proxies in the region, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, according to his expression.

He added, "One way or another, if that leads to regime change, the sooner it happens, the better."

Herzog revealed shared concerns with Washington regarding a "new secret plan" by Iran to accelerate nuclear weapons development, noting intelligence indicating Tehran's desire to increase its stockpile of long-range missiles from two thousand missiles to twenty thousand.

He said, "When you know that they have invested all the resources of their nation and their money in creating chaos in the Middle East.. and you know they have a new secret plan to rush towards the bomb (nuclear), you have to act."

CBS pointed out in its commentary on the interview that Israel and the United States have not provided any evidence supporting their claims that Iran is planning to build a nuclear weapon.

The network also highlighted Iran's ongoing assurances that its nuclear program is intended for peaceful purposes only.

As the joint airstrikes entered their fifth day, Herzog emphasized that Israel is not calling for a ground invasion, stating, "To be clear, I am not calling for forces on the ground.. I am not asking this of the Americans or anyone else."

He also denied that Israel pushed Washington into this confrontation, saying, "Israel does not dictate anything to President Trump, nor drags America into war, God forbid," considering that Trump's decision came based on "clear considerations and professional decision-making processes."

On the other hand, Herzog admitted that this war is "not popular in America," attributing this to people "not knowing the complexities of war usually, and comparing it to previous wars," describing the current confrontation as a "unique war."

CBS reported on the results of a poll revealing a significant gap between the American administration and the public, as the survey showed that 62% of Americans do not believe that the White House has clearly explained the objectives of the military action against Iran.

Regarding the timeframe for the operations, Herzog stated that weakening the capabilities of the Iranian regime "takes time," but he noted that data shows "continuous weakness" in Tehran's capabilities.

When asked about who might lead Iran in the future, Herzog refused to comment, simply saying, "It is not our job to decide who can lead Iran."

The U.S. and Israel have launched a wide-ranging joint war on Iran since last Saturday morning, resulting in the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and dozens of military leaders, in addition to targeting air defenses and missile launch sites.