He also claimed that Netanyahu is interested in triggering a broader military conflict, but only with American approval.

“Everyone knows Netanyahu has such a desire; it’s no secret,” Fidan said.

He alleged that Netanyahu would not proceed without guarantees from major allies, chiefly the United States, and that lobbying efforts for a “green light” have included his visit to the White House in late December.

Turning to Iran’s internal state, Fidan noted that the country has endured economic sanctions for nearly three decades, describing the toll on the Iranian people as severe. He characterized the population as “dynamic and sophisticated,” particularly its younger generations, and said that while they are eager for a better life and economic opportunity, the sanctions have imposed major structural burdens.

These issues, he said, are the root cause of recurring protests, including mass demonstrations in 2019 and again in 2023. While the current unrest is more limited in scale, Fidan emphasized that some of the protest activity is being manipulated from outside.

“Alongside the authentic reasons for protest, there is clear external manipulation by Iran’s adversaries,” he said.

On the diplomatic front, Fidan said Turkey seeks to prevent harm to Iranian civilians and supports resolving tensions between Iran, the United States, and other Western powers through negotiations. He claimed that Iran is, at times, confronted with preconditions that are meant to sabotage the possibility of talks, and warned that such tactics serve only to isolate Tehran while providing justification for potential Israeli military action.

He emphasized that reaching a negotiated agreement is vital for regional stability and would also remove what he called “international cover” for an Israeli strike.

In his closing remarks, Fidan said he was relaying a message from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Iran’s leadership. That message, he said, called on Tehran to open a new chapter in its relations with neighboring Arab states and to engage with them in a “genuine and sincere” manner.

Iran, he said, should “set aside past grievances” and prioritize its responsibilities to the peoples of the region. He also urged Iran to embrace the possibility of shared leadership in stabilizing the Middle East.

Later in the week, the same account claimed that “thousands of activists in the Basij militia and security forces have joined the protesters,” though the post was later deleted.

Ben-David wrote that the unit within Mossad responsible for psychological operations and influence is headed by a former candidate for the agency’s top post, identified only as “A.,” who now serves as deputy to Mossad director Roman Gofman.

According to Ben-David, the two tweets reflected poor judgment, and the deletion of one suggested a measure of reconsideration. He argued that Israel should avoid inserting itself, verbally or digitally, into every unfolding situation, even when developments may seem advantageous.

“The Mossad would be better served by operating more discreetly and tweeting less,” Ben-David concluded.

He accused Washington of “destabilizing practices” that undermine the founding UN Charter, violate fundamental principles of international law, and threaten the foundations of international peace and security.

In his speech, Khamenei called on protesters to “preserve unity,” warning that Tehran would not tolerate people acting as “mercenaries for foreigners.”

With Iran’s anti-government unrest evolving rapidly and foreign pressure mounting, the clerical establishment appears unable, for now, to tackle what has become a crisis of legitimacy at the heart of the Islamic Republic.

When asked in an interview on Thursday at what point the US would intervene, given that over 30 protestors have been killed so far, Trump claimed that many protestors have been “killed by problems with crowd control” and that he “isn’t sure [he] can necessarily hold somebody responsible for that.”

On Friday, Trump said that the US was watching what was happening very closely and that “if they start killing people like they have in the past, we will get involved. We’ll be hitting them very hard where it hurts.”

Trump clarified that “that doesn’t mean boots on the ground, but it means hitting them very, very hard where it hurts.”