Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday addressed the Iranian people, expressing solidarity and urging them to seek change in their homeland. 

“Israel stands with you,” he said in a video statement, emphasizing the struggles faced by Iranians under their government.

Netanyahu criticized the Iranian leadership for its focus on external conflicts,  blaming it for the continuous unrest in the Middle East. 

“Every day, you see a regime that subjugates you, make fiery speeches about defending Lebanon, defending Gaza. Yet every day, that regime plunges our region deeper into darkness and deeper into war,” he stated.

The Israeli Prime Minister voiced his belief that the Iranian regime is leading its people toward despair, warning the Iranians they are getting "closer to the abyss.”

“The vast majority of Iranians know their regime doesn’t care a whit about them. If it did care, if it cared about you, it would stop wasting billions of dollars on futile wars across the Middle East. It would start improving your lives,” he said.

Netanyahu urged Iranians to envision a future where their country invests in its people rather than in conflict.

“Imagine if all the vast money the regime wasted on nuclear weapons and foreign wars were invested in your children’s education, in improving your health care, in building your nation’s infrastructure, water, sewage, all the other things that you need. Imagine that,” he said.

“When Iran is finally free — and that moment will come a lot sooner than people think – everything will be different,” Netanyahu added, envisioning a peaceful relationship between Israel and Iran.

“Our two ancient peoples, the Jewish people and the Persian people, will finally be at peace. Our two countries, Israel and Iran, will be at peace.”

“When that day comes, the terror network that the regime built in five continents will be bankrupt, dismantled. Iran will thrive as never before. Global investment. Massive tourism. Brilliant technological innovation based on the tremendous talents that exists inside Iran. Doesn’t that sound better than endless poverty, repression and war?”

“Don’t let a small group of fanatic theocrats crush your hopes and your dreams. You deserve better. Your children deserve better. The entire world deserves better. I know you don’t support the rapists and murderers of Hamas and Hezbollah, but your leaders do. You deserve more. The people of Iran should know – Israel stands with you. May we together know a future of prosperity and peace,” Netanyahu concluded.