Israeli cabinet ministers have reportedly been instructed not to answer any questions regarding the ongoing protests in Iran, as demonstrations that have swept the country have provoked strong threats from Israel’s ally, the US.
This comes amid fears in Israeli circles that any declaration of support for the demonstrators "could harm the movement," The New Arab's Arabic language sister site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported on Monday. Meanwhile, fears have escalated in the region that any intervention from Israel or the US could exacerbate the situation dramatically.
Following the outbreak of the sweeping nationwide protests over two weeks ago, Israel said it has been "closely monitoring" the situation.
Despite little public commentary, Israeli security officials have been holding discussions regarding the recent developments in Iran and recommended that the political leadership "refrain from intervention," according to the Israeli Channel 13.
The Israeli army said the protests in the country are an "internal Iranian matter," but that it "would be equipped to respond with power if need be".
Despite this, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has commented publicly on the situation, saying on Sunday that he hoped Iran would soon "be freed from tyranny" and claimed that the people of Israel are "in awe of the tremendous courage" of its citizens.
Additionally, Gila Gamliel, the Minister for Science and Technology, has also commented on social media on the protests, sharing a Trump Truth Social post stating that Washington was "ready to help" the protesters.
Israel and Iran have engaged in a cold proxy war for over four decades, though the conflict escalated dramatically in 2024 in parallel with the war in Gaza, which started the year prior.
Israel struck the Iranian embassy in Damascus in April of that year, with Tehran soon retaliating. A back-and-forth of violent incidents soon ensued, including the assassination of Hamas political bureau leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
In June 2025, the conflict escalated into a fully-fledged war after Israel struck several Iranian nuclear sites, assassinating politicians, Revolutionary Guard Corps officials, nuclear scientists, and more. The 12-day war between the two foes plunged the region into a further crisis, and also saw the involvement of the US, which also carried out attacks on the Islamic Republic.
Since late December, demonstrations erupted across several Iranian cities, with many angry about the country’s ailing economy, exacerbated by the dwindling value of the rial currency, hyperinflation, and US sanctions.
The protests soon evolved into broader demonstrations against the Iranian government, as well as the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The demonstrations have triggered a wave of global attention - and warning - from the US, whose president has threatened military action in Iran if Tehran kills protesters. Tehran has rejected Trump’s threats and warned against any intervention.
The protests are deemed the most significant since the 2022 demonstrations triggered by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, a Kurdish woman who was killed in police custody after allegedly violating the country’s strict dress code.
The exiled son of the last shah of Iran, the US-based Reza Pahlavi, has also been at the centre of the protests, having called for people to "seize city centres," and pledged to "help lead a transitional government" if the Islamic Republic was no more.
Pahlavi has cut a divisive figure while in exile. In 2023, he embarked on a trip to Israel and met with then-Intelligence Minister Gamliel, Netanyahu, and President Isaac Herzog, sparking backlash.