JERUSALEM (VINnews)— Israel is closely monitoring escalating protests in Iran, amid reports that the unrest could threaten the long-term stability of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s regime.
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According to Israeli media reports citing intelligence sources, the ongoing demonstrations — now in their sixth day as of January 2, 2026 — have evolved from economic grievances into widespread anti-government chants targeting Khamenei directly. Protesters in multiple cities have called for regime change, with slogans such as “Death to Khamenei” and invocations of Iran’s pre-revolutionary monarchy.
i24NEWS reported that Israel remains on high alert due to developments in Iran. On Thursday, Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir met at the military’s intelligence headquarters to discuss potential scenarios stemming from the Iranian situation, including possible implications for regional conflict.
The protests, initially sparked by a collapse in the Iranian rial and rising costs, have spread nationwide, with reports of clashes, arrests and fatalities. Iranian officials have accused external forces, including the U.S. and Israel, of stoking the unrest, while U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Tehran against violent suppression of demonstrators.
Israeli officials have long viewed internal instability in Iran as a strategic factor, particularly following the brief but intense Israel-Iran war in June 2025 that damaged Iranian military and nuclear capabilities. Analysts note that any significant weakening of the Tehran regime could alter the balance of power in the Middle East.
No official Israeli comment has been made on specific intelligence assessments regarding a potential regime collapse. However, the high-level military meeting underscores Jerusalem’s vigilance as events unfold in Iran.
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