At a joint press briefing in Jerusalem on Tuesday with Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar addressed the recent killing of two senior Iranian figures, presenting the strikes as part of a broader effort to counter regional threats posed by Tehran.

“Last night, the IDF took out Commander of the Basij Gholamreza Soleimani, and his deputy and Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani,” Sa’ar said.

He continued by asserting that their removal also benefits Iranian civilians, pointing to their roles in suppressing dissent. “the Iranians are also safer without them,” he said.

Brilliant speech by @gidonsaar – take a listen.

“He had a $10 million price on his head in the US, we did it for free any how” – referencing Ali Larijani

The part where he turns to the Estonian Minister and says:

“We still haven’t seen anything from Mojtaba, wouldn’t you… pic.twitter.com/0e7QgnYr46

— Kosher (@koshercockney) March 17, 2026

Expanding on their records, Sa’ar described both men as key enforcers of internal repression. “The Basij, under Soleimani’s command, was responsible for the brutal repression of the Iranian people seeking their freedom. Soleimani was under US and EU sanctions for his role in repressing Iranians. Larijani was also under US sanctions, for the same reason, with a 10 million dollar prize on his head. We did it for free, anyhow. Our actions are weakening its repression mechanism. The regime can only be toppled by the Iranian people. Yet without external help, the Iranian people can’t liberate themselves,” Sa’ar said.

Sa’ar characterized Iran as a central destabilizing force worldwide. He referred to the regime as “the number one source of regional and global instability,” and accused it of exporting “extremism, terror and bloodshed” since 1979.

He further outlined Iran’s network of allied militant groups across the Middle East. According to Sa’ar, Tehran has established “a proxy network of terror states across the region,” including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, and the Houthis in Yemen.

Discussing recent violence, Sa’ar claimed the regime intentionally targets civilians. He pointed to specific incidents, stating that it “deliberately attacks civilian populations,” including what he described as a strike near a major Christian site in Jerusalem. “Yesterday, it hit by the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem,” he said, adding that he spoke with the Patriarch to express solidarity.

He also cited attacks affecting both Muslim and Jewish communities, referencing “a Mosque on Ramadan” in the village of Zarzir and “a synagogue in Beit Shemesh, killing 9 Jews.”

Turning to Iran’s military capabilities, Sa’ar said ongoing efforts by Israel and the United States are aimed at dismantling key components of Iran’s strategic arsenal. “Israel and the United States are taking out Iran’s nuclear program,” he said, along with its missile infrastructure and broader military production capacity.

He emphasized that these threats extend beyond Israel. “These don’t just threaten Israel, but also other countries in the Middle East and Europe,” he said, adding that such operations would “directly impact European security for the better.”

Sa’ar also warned about disruptions to global shipping routes, attributing them to Iranian-backed forces. He described the situation as “modern piracy,” stating, “The Houthis… crippled the freedom of navigation in the Red Sea,” and added, “Now, the Iranian regime is blocking international shipping and the flow of energy through the Strait of Hormuz.”

He cautioned that if left unchecked, these tactics could spread to other parts of the world.