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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on October 20, 2026, that toppling Iran's government was Israel's "primary objective," a day after US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth held an unannounced meeting with him in Israel to discuss Iran, according to Israeli officials. The remarks came ahead of Israel's upcoming election, in which Netanyahu's rivals have also urged tougher measures against Tehran while criticizing him for not eliminating the Iranian threat. Separately, an analyst told Iran International that Saudi Arabia should join a US-led push alongside Israel and the UAE for political change in Iran, arguing Riyadh's current approach has failed to curb Tehran's regional influence.