The Israeli Prime Minister has demanded that the United States launch a new series of military attacks against Tehran to destabilize the current leadership of the Islamic Republic, the Financial Times reports. Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly lobbying President Donald Trump on a daily basis to authorize renewed air strikes that could force the Iranian government to collapse, although neither the U.S. nor the Israeli government has confirmed the frequency of these requests on the record. Netanyahu has also allegedly directed Israel’s security services to pursue a strategy of regime change, arguing that bombing Iranian facilities is insufficient to eliminate the nuclear threat.

The push for escalation coincides with internal political volatility in Jerusalem. During a speech marking the opening of the 26th Knesset, Netanyahu called for a national unity government, but the remarks reportedly led to the collapse of initial talks between the Likud and Yashar parties. While Netanyahu warns of international pressure to accept a nuclear-armed Iran, Trump has described further military action as unlikely and has tasked JD Vance with pursuing a diplomatic resolution. Regional leaders from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Türkiye have likewise urged the U.S. to avoid renewed fighting to prevent further damage to regional economies.