Finance Minister Smotrich Says Israel Should Avoid US-Iran Conflict, Current Situation Best

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich addressed the ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran during the "Katif Conference for National Responsibility" on Tuesday morning. He stated that Israel has no interest in joining the conflict, emphasizing that the current situation is the most favorable for Israel. Smotrich highlighted that Israel's primary goal, which may differ from that of the US, is to destabilize and weaken the Iranian regime to the point of its collapse.

He explained that the most effective way to achieve this objective is by crippling Iran's economy. Smotrich pointed out that inflation in Iran currently stands at 85 percent, and the Iranian rial is trading at a rate of 1.9 million to the US dollar, a trend expected to worsen. Additionally, another Israeli source commented that Mojtaba Khamenei holds no real influence in Iran. The article also notes sharp criticism from both coalition and opposition members regarding the agreement with Iran.