Israels Innovation Minister Declares US-Iran Negotiations Futile, Calls for Regime Change

At the JNS International Policy Summit in Jerusalem, Israel’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Gila Gamliel, declared on Monday that negotiations with Iran’s ruling regime are a lost cause and that the Iranian government must be toppled.

Gamliel, a veteran Likud Knesset member and former environment minister, noted that the United States and Iran are presently negotiating in Switzerland under a 60‑day ceasefire extension. She cautioned that the Iranian regime cannot engage with those who seek Israel’s destruction, describing any such talks as ‘talks with the devil.’

The remarks arrive while U.S. and Iranian delegations convene at the Burgenstock hotel complex in Zurich, with Pakistan and Qatar serving as mediators. Reportedly, the first round wrapped up after roughly 80 minutes, after which Iranian officials have been conducting internal consultations.

Gamliel’s comments mirror Israel’s broader view that Iran poses a security threat. She underscored the regime’s documented history of lies, deception and delays, and stressed that ordinary Iranians are distinct from the ruling elite.

‘The regime in Tehran must fall,’ she asserted. ‘It will fall, even if it takes longer than we hoped, but it will inevitably happen.’

She also recalled the close ties that once bound Jewish and Persian peoples before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, when Iran and Israel maintained cordial relations and direct flights connected Tel Aviv to Tehran. Those connections were severed following the revolution that birthed the current Islamic Republic.

Gamliel’s remarks fit into a wider Israeli narrative that rejects diplomatic engagement with the Iranian regime. The government maintains that Iran’s nuclear ambitions and backing of proxy groups in Lebanon and Syria constitute an existential threat.

The U.S. and Iran’s Swiss talks target a range of issues— Iran’s nuclear program, the situation in Lebanon, and wider regional stability. The negotiations are slated to run for 60 days, following a recent ceasefire extension. Yet Israeli officials have clarified that they will not regard the U.S. agreement as binding.

Gamliel’s comments also allude to her personal ties with Reza Pahlavi, the former crown prince of the Pahlavi dynasty and a leading opposition figure in exile. Pahlavi has called for a referendum to shape Iran’s future governance and has urged Iranians to protest the current regime.

In the wider regional context, tensions have escalated. Israel has intensified military operations in Lebanon, striking Hezbollah and Iranian-backed militias, while the United States has bolstered its Middle East presence, deploying carrier strike groups and air assets in response to Iranian actions.

Under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli government has repeatedly warned that it will not be bound by any U.S.-Iran agreement that fails to address Iran’s nuclear program and its support for hostile groups.

Gamliel delivered her remarks at a summit organized by Jerusalem‑based outlet JNS, which concentrates on international policy issues impacting the Middle East. The gathering convened policymakers, scholars and industry leaders to discuss security, technology and diplomatic developments.

The minister’s comments align with Israel’s official stance that the Iranian regime represents an existential threat and that diplomatic engagement without stringent conditions is unacceptable. She reiterated that the regime’s longevity relies on deception and delay, and that ordinary Iranians bear no responsibility for the ruling elite’s actions.

As U.S. and Iranian delegations press on with Swiss talks, Israeli officials remain skeptical of any agreement that does not culminate in regime change. Gamliel’s remarks underscore Israel’s insistence that the sole viable solution is the removal of the current Iranian leadership.

The situation remains fluid, with continued military operations in Lebanon and ongoing diplomatic efforts in Switzerland. The Israeli government has pledged to monitor developments closely and adjust its policy as needed.

In summary, Gila Gamliel’s statement at the JNS International Policy Summit reaffirmed Israel’s view that negotiations with Iran’s ruling regime are futile and that the regime must fall. Her comments arrive amid continued U.S.-Iran talks in Switzerland and heightened regional tensions, underscoring Israel’s unwavering stance on the need for decisive change in Iran’s leadership.