Israeli President Isaac Herzog said Wednesday that Israel and the U.S. did not have “much of a choice” but to “take action” and strike Iran. He also indicated that Israel had intelligence showing Iran wants to expand its arsenal of long-range missiles from 2,000 to 20,000.
“When you know that they have invested all their nation’s resources and money in creating havoc in the Middle East as you try to make peace with Muslim countries,” Herzog said. “When you know that they have another new secret plan to rush to the bomb, you have to take action.”
In an interview with “CBS Evening News” anchor Tony Dokoupil, Herzog expressed concerns that Iran was going to expand its weapons arsenal. Both the U.S. and Israel believe Iran has “another new secret plan to rush” the development of a nuclear weapon. However, neither country has provided evidence to back up its claims regarding Iran’s alleged nuclear weapons ambitions.
White House special envoy Steve Witkoff said Monday that, prior to the strikes, Iranian negotiators claimed during talks that they had enough uranium to make 11 nuclear bombs. Iran, on the other hand, has long maintained that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes.
With the joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran now in their fifth day and no end to the conflict in sight, Herzog clarified that Israel is not calling for a ground invasion of the country.
“Let me be clear, I’m not calling on any boots on the ground. I’m not asking any American or anyone else,” Herzog stated.
When asked whether it was President Trump or Israeli leaders who ultimately made the decision to carry out the assault, Herzog said that “Israel does not dictate to President Trump anything, and Israel does not drag America into a war, God forbid. This decision of his (Trump) is out of clear considerations and professional decision-making process.”
He added that Israel is “a factor because Israel is an ally.”
Regarding the goals of the conflict, Herzog said that regime change is “not necessarily” the objective. Instead, he described the aim as “Middle East change,” which involves crippling Iran’s ability to develop a nuclear weapon and preventing it from being a state sponsor of terror worldwide. This includes cutting off support to militant groups that serve as its proxies, such as Gaza-based Hamas, Lebanon-based Hezbollah, and the Yemen-based Houthis.
“It’s about time that everybody tells Iran, ‘Guys, we’re fed up, this has to change,'” Herzog said. “One way or another, if it will lead to a regime change, the more the better.”
Herzog later added that Israel is not asking other Gulf nations to enter the war.
“Sometimes you have no choice, if you are hit, you have to fight back,” he stated.
Asked about concerns over the lack of a clear endgame to the war, Herzog acknowledged, “It’s always something that one needs to take into account.”
Pressed on a timeframe for ending the conflict, Herzog responded, “It takes time, because these things take time, but if you look at it from a bird’s-eye view, and also with the data, you see, there is a constant weakening of the Iranian regime’s capabilities.”
When asked in a phone interview with CBS News on Saturday night whether there was someone in Iran he would like to see lead the country following the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, President Trump responded, “Yes, I think so. There are some good candidates.”
Herzog, however, remained silent on whether Israel has its own list of potential Iranian leaders, only saying, “It is not our job to decide who can lead Iran.”
He described the coordination between the U.S. and Israel in the conflict as “superbly close, very close,” but declined to provide details on how that coordination is playing out.
Herzog also would not comment on whether Israeli officials were concerned that the U.S. might reduce its involvement in the war if domestic support wanes. He admitted that he understands “it’s not a popular war in America.”
A CBS News poll released Tuesday found that 62% of Americans do not believe the White House has clearly explained its goals for the military action against Iran.
“I understand it’s not a popular war in America, because, you know, usually, people do not know the intricacies of the war, and they also compare it to previous and other wars,” Herzog said. “This is a unique war.”
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/israeli-president-isaac-herzog-speaks-on-iran-war-goals/