In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, Israeli parliament member Ohad Tal emphasized that negotiating a deal with Iran should not be a priority without first dismantling its “evil, jihadist regime.” This statement comes in response to President Donald Trump’s call for both nations to enter discussions on Sunday.
Tal, who serves on the Knesset’s foreign affairs and defense committees, spoke from outside of Jerusalem as Israeli and Iranian forces continued to engage in strikes for a third consecutive day. He stated, “We are now engaging in a war with Iran, a war which I believe is historic, because we are now, finally, hopefully, we will liberate, not just ourselves, not just the Iranian people, but the entire world from the threat of the evil Iranian regime.”
Earlier on Sunday, Trump shared his thoughts on TRUTH Social, urging that “Iran and Israel should make a deal, and will make a deal,” highlighting his administration’s previous success in negotiating peace between other nations through trade.
However, Tal clarified that the current objectives of the Ayatollah and the Muslim Brotherhood are the “destruction of Israel” and the “destruction of America.” He argued, “I think that our goal should be taking down the Iranian regime, because if you really want to put an end to the ambitions of Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon, the only way to do that is by taking down this regime. This regime has only one purpose, not to destroy Israel … they want to take down America.”
Tal asserted that negotiating further deals would only enable Iran to rearm and enhance its nuclear capabilities. He labeled any talks with a regime that supports jihadist terrorism as “outrageous,” insisting that the focus should remain on dismantling this “evil regime.”
The Trump administration has reportedly declined an Israeli proposal to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, due to concerns about further destabilizing the region. Tal believes that the West must acknowledge the necessity of removing Iran’s regime to safeguard not just the region, but the world as a whole.
Since the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) executed a large-scale preemptive strike against Iranian interests last Thursday, focusing on nuclear facilities and leadership, Tal mentioned receiving support from various Muslim and Arab leaders who see Israel’s actions as beneficial to their own security. He stated, “That is the reality. Iran and the Ayatollahs are not just a threat to Israel; they are a threat to the entire world, and therefore I believe that by the fact that Israel is not looking the other way, we’re not burying our head in the sand. We are standing in front of this threat, and we are fighting back. I think we are doing a big favor to the world.”
Tal noted that Iran has sustained significant damage and that the IDF has essentially gained control over Iranian airspace. He described efforts targeting military bases and nuclear facilities, contrasting these with Iran’s strategy of attacking civilian populations.
In a statement about morale and principles, Tal remarked, “That’s a culture that glorifies death, doesn’t care about civilian casualties, and we’re a culture that sanctifies life.”
He added that he has received backing from U.S. officials, including members of Congress. Tal believes that Israel’s current military operations align with Trump’s “America First” policy, arguing that these actions can prevent the U.S. from being involved in more extensive conflicts.
“We’re getting the support from the Trump administration 100 percent,” Tal concluded, emphasizing, “If the Iranians would have managed to get their desire and acquire a weapon, that would not have just been a threat to America. We’re not asking [for] American boots on the ground, we’re not asking America to fight for us. We’re just asking them to support us in taking away the threat coming from Iran.”