Trump rejects Netanyahu's proposal to incite protests in Iran last week

Washington (ANTARA) - US President Donald Trump rejected the idea from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to encourage the Iranian people to stage mass protests against their government last week, according to a report by Axios on Wednesday, citing several sources. “Why should we ask people to take to the streets when they will only be slaughtered,” Trump said, as quoted by a US official. Trump believes the idea is too risky, the report stated. After Israeli attacks killed several Iranian officials, Israel saw an opportunity to further destabilise the situation, and Netanyahu contacted Trump, offering to send a joint message to the Iranian people to rebel, the sources told Axios. On 28 February, the US and Israel launched attacks on targets in Iran, including in Tehran, resulting in damage, civilian casualties, and the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran then responded by attacking Israeli territory and US military facilities in the Middle East in self-defence. The US and Israel initially claimed the preliminary attacks were necessary to counter threats perceived from Iran’s nuclear programme, but later both clarified their desire to witness a change of power in Iran. Meanwhile, National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard stated during a hearing in the US House of Representatives last week that the goals of the US and Israel in the military operation against Iran are not aligned.