Israel ahead of schedule on war goals in Iran, ambassador to France says

PARIS, March 10 (Reuters) - Israel is ahead of schedule in achieving its war goals in Iran, its ambassador to France ​said on Tuesday, adding that the operation aims ‌to weaken Iran’s authorities to curb attacks beyond its borders and allow its people to shape their own future.

“When we were asked at ​the start of this war about its duration, ​we said it would last a few weeks. That ⁠hasn’t changed,” Joshua Zarka told BFM TV. “We are ahead ​of schedule to achieve our war objectives.”

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Zarka, formerly Israel’s lead ​diplomat on Iran, said the goals extend beyond ending Iran’s nuclear programme. They include weakening the government to the point that its population ​can “take its fate into its own hands,” and ensuring ​Tehran can no longer mount attacks beyond its borders.

Asked about the appointment ‌of ⁠Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader, Zarka said that if he follows his father Ali Khamenei’s positions, he “would also be on a list of those who should be eliminated.”

Israel ​has simultaneously ​launched major operations ⁠against Iran‑backed Hezbollah after it struck Israeli territory. The Lebanese government has said it wants ​direct talks with Israel to halt the ​fighting, but ⁠Zarka argued that Beirut is not disarming Hezbollah.

“At this stage, I’m not aware of any decision to enter negotiations to ⁠end ​this war,” he said. “What would end ​it is the disarmament of Hezbollah — and that is a choice for the ​Lebanese government.”

Reporting by John Irish; Editing by Gianluca Lo Nostro/Sudip Kar-Gupta

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