Israel-Iran War: Netanyahu Reveals Plan for Phase 2 & Potential for Peace

Israel has developed a plan with “many surprises” for the next phase of its war with Iran, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday evening. According to the Associated Press, the aim is to destabilize the regime in Tehran and allow for change. Netanyahu called on members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard to lay down their arms, promising they would not be harmed if they did so. The United States and Israel began striking Iran last Saturday.

Netanyahu messaged the Iranian people that “the moment of truth is approaching.” Israel, he said, is trying to liberate Iran, not divide it. However, the Israeli prime minister said the liberation of the country would depend on the Iranians themselves. Netanyahu also outlined a vision that peace could then prevail between Iran and Israel.

The Prime Minister expressed solidarity with all countries in the Middle East that have become targets of Iranian attacks, adding that many of these states are now speaking with Israel and wish to cooperate.

In his address, Netanyahu also thanked U.S. President Donald Trump, who he said told him in December: “Bibi, we must prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons at all costs.” Netanyahu said relations between the U.S. And Israel have never been stronger.

Second Phase of the War

Earlier Saturday, the Israel Defense Forces announced it was launching the second phase of its war with Iran and had already struck more than 300 targets over the weekend. According to witnesses, a refinery south of Tehran was hit, which the Associated Press reports is the first reported strike on civilian industrial infrastructure in Iran since the war began.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard stated that in retaliation for this attack, it struck an Israeli oil refinery in Haifa. Israel, however, reported no damage, Reuters noted. A senior member of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Mohammad Reza Naqdi, meanwhile, said in a statement on Iranian state television Saturday that “the opportunity has arisen to eliminate Israel.”

The Times of Israel news site, citing videos on social media, reported that Iran apparently used cluster munitions in one of its attacks on central Israel. No injuries were reported in that attack.

The current war in the Middle East began with strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran on Saturday, February 28th, when Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed. The attacked country, which the U.S. And Israel accuse of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, shortly thereafter launched a military retaliation, attacking Israel and U.S. Bases and other targets in the Persian Gulf region with rockets and drones.

Netanyahu’s announcement of a plan with “many surprises” comes as the conflict escalates and raises concerns about a wider regional war. The stated goal of destabilizing the Iranian regime is a significant escalation of the conflict, moving beyond targeted strikes against military infrastructure to a direct challenge to the Islamic Republic’s leadership. The call for members of the Revolutionary Guard to lay down their arms suggests a potential strategy of encouraging defections or internal unrest within Iran.

The reference to a close relationship with President Trump is notable, given Trump’s previous withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and his administration’s policy of maximum pressure on Tehran. The renewed emphasis on this alliance signals a continuation of that hardline approach.

The reported strike on a refinery south of Tehran marks a shift in tactics, potentially targeting Iran’s economic capabilities. The Iranian response, with the alleged attack on the Haifa oil refinery, demonstrates a willingness to retaliate against Israeli infrastructure. The claim by a senior Revolutionary Guard member about eliminating Israel underscores the high stakes and the potential for further escalation.

The use of cluster munitions, if confirmed, would raise concerns about civilian casualties and potential violations of international law. The reported support for the strikes within Israel, with 81% of the public supporting them according to a preliminary survey by the Institute for National Security Studies, suggests a strong domestic consensus behind Netanyahu’s policies. However, as CNN reported, this war may help Netanyahu domestically but hurt Israel abroad.

The United Nations has been criticized by Netanyahu, who believes many countries have recognized the organization as hypocritical, both for “baselessly criticizing” Israel during its war against Hamas and for remaining silent when Iranians were “massacred by their own leaders.” This criticism reflects a broader frustration with international responses to the conflict and a perceived bias against Israel.

The situation remains highly volatile, with the potential for further escalation. The success of Israel’s plan and the ultimate outcome of the conflict, will depend on a complex interplay of military, political, and economic factors, as well as the reactions of regional and international actors.