On March 12, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu addressed the Iranian people at a press conference:
"The US-Israeli joint military operation aims not only to destroy Iran's missile and nuclear capabilities but also to create conditions for the Iranian people to overthrow the regime that has oppressed you for nearly five decades."
…
"I say to the Iranian people: The moment when you will be able to embark on a new path of freedom is approaching. We are with you. But ultimately — it depends on you yourselves."
Previously, Israel's strikes against Iran were publicly justified as preventing nuclear weapons development or eliminating security threats, falling within the "defensive" category. However, this time, Netanyahu explicitly listed helping the Iranian people "overthrow the regime" as a goal alongside destroying military capabilities.
The "psychological warfare" against the Iranian people
Shifting the target of the speech from Tehran's leaders to ordinary citizens is a typical diplomatic and psychological tactic:
By claiming "we are targeting the regime that oppresses you," it attempts to distinguish the Iranian people from the government, inciting public dissatisfaction with the current regime.
Portraying Israel as a "liberator" rather than an "invader" provides moral justification for the collateral damage caused by military strikes (such as water and power cuts, civilian casualties).
The phrase "ultimately it depends on you yourselves" is crucial. On one hand, it is an encouragement, but on the other, it is also an attempt to shift responsibility — if the regime does not fall, it is because you did not try hard enough.
The statement "the moment when you will be able to embark on a new path of freedom is approaching" is a political slogan based on the current battlefield situation. Its underlying message is that the military umbrella protecting the Iranian regime is crumbling, and now is the best time for you to take action. This aims to encourage internal opposition forces in Iran, trying to create a联动 effect of "external pressure and internal change."
Such incendiary rhetoric also carries the risk of backfiring. When facing external invasion, the Iranian people's nationalistic sentiment may be ignited, leading them to unite more closely around the current regime, forming a consensus of "resisting external aggression."
In summary, this is not only a promise to the Iranian people, but also a carefully designed political war: using military means to destroy defenses, and using discourse to ignite public opinion. However, as history shows, whether the external "liberation" slogans can truly transform into internal "paths to freedom" ultimately depends on the judgment and choices of the Iranian people themselves.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1859494644059148/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.