Israel’s President, Isaac Herzog, has argued that Iran has no sustainable path forward without a change in leadership.
Herzog made the remark against the backdrop of nationwide protests against Iran’s clerical rulers.
Speaking on Thursday during an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Herzog said the widespread unrest reflected deep public frustration.
“What began as demonstrations over economic hardship has transformed into a wider challenge to the religious system that has governed Iran since 1979.
“The Iranian people are yearning for change. The Iranian people deserve change,” Herzog said.
He emphasised that meaningful and lasting reform could only be achieved through a transformation of Iran’s political leadership, while underscoring that any such shift must originate from within Iran itself and be backed by global support rather than external imposition.
“The future for the Iranian people can only be in a regime change, and that has to be within the realms of the Iranian people and the international community and its support,” he said, adding that Iran’s clerical leadership appears increasingly unstable.
Large-scale protests broke out across Iran beginning on January 8, with thousands of people joining demonstrations over several consecutive days.
The unrest has since diminished, which activists attribute to a harsh state response, including mass arrests and a sweeping internet blackout.
