Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that he had directed the Israel Defense Forces and Mossad intelligence agency to work toward overthrowing Iran’s government, marking his most explicit public directive yet for a campaign aimed at removing the country’s leadership.

“There is only one way to remove this threat once and for all: Overthrow the regime in Iran. And that is my directive to the IDF, the Mossad, and the security branches,” Netanyahu said during a military officers’ graduation ceremony at the Bahad 1 training base in southern Israel.

Netanyahu accused Iran’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, of continuing efforts to develop nuclear weapons, following in the footsteps of his late father. Tehran has repeatedly denied seeking nuclear arms.

“As long as they are here, as long as they strive to acquire horrific weapons, the State of Israel faces an existential threat,” Netanyahu said, adding that Israel had a duty to protect its people.

The Israeli leader had previously expressed support for the collapse of Iran’s government. In June, he said the regime’s days were numbered and indicated that Israel would help bring about its downfall. Wednesday’s remarks went further by explicitly directing Israel’s security agencies to pursue that objective.

Netanyahu also portrayed President Donald Trump as prepared to continue military action against Iran, saying the American president was ready to “finish the job” but would do so with Israel’s help. Trump warned over the weekend that the United States would finish the job unless Iran’s leaders changed course.

The New York Times has reported that Washington and Jerusalem are developing plans for a large-scale attack on Iran following the U.S. midterm elections. The reported plans have not been independently confirmed in the statements described by Netanyahu.

Netanyahu framed the effort as part of a broader campaign against Iran and its regional allies, including Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

“We will eliminate the head of the octopus, and we will also finally sever its arms,” he said, reiterating Israel’s goal of dismantling the militant groups backed by Tehran.

Addressing the newly graduated officers, Netanyahu declared that confronting Iran’s leadership was now part of their mission. Defense Minister Israel Katz also issued a warning to Tehran, saying, “If Iran attacks Israel, Iran will burn!”

Netanyahu’s directive signals a more explicit push for regime change as Israel continues to identify Iran’s nuclear ambitions and support for regional militant groups as central national security threats.