Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs
FM Sa’ar: “”Last night, the IDF took out Commander of the Basij Soleimani and his deputy, and Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani. The Iranians are safer without them.”
Type: Press Releases
Topic: Foreign Policy
Publish Date: 17.03.2026
Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa’ar today (Tuesday, 17 March 2026) in Jerusalem held a press conference with Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna.
Following are FM Sa’ar’s full remarks:
“I thank my friend Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, for his solidarity visit to Israel.
Margus, we appreciate your visit, especially at this time.
2025 was an important year for our bilateral relations.
Last November – just a few months ago – I had the privilege of opening Israel’s embassy in Tallinn. That was a great day.
It reflects the importance I see in our relations.
We look forward to continuing the momentum in 2026.
I admire the abilities of Estonians in innovation, digital services for citizens. I’m sure we are going to do great together.
*
The mad Iranian terror regime is the number one source of regional and global instability.
Since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, it has exported extremism, terror and bloodshed in the Middle East, and beyond.
Iran has built up a proxy network of terror states across the region: Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza and the Houthis in Yemen.
Iran built the Hezbollah terror state within Lebanon – effectively controlling the country from afar.
We see it, again, these days.
The regime exports its fanatic interpretation of Islam around the world.
The regime is anti-Western and seeks to destroy our Western lifestyle.
This mad regime butchers huge masses of its own people, struggling for their freedom.
This regime deliberately attacks civilian populations in its neighboring countries and in Israel.
It attacks Christians, Jews and Muslims. It attacks holy sites of the three religions.
Yesterday, it hit by the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem. I spoke this morning with the Patriarch and expressed our solidarity.
It also hit the Al-Aqsa compound.
On Friday, it hit the Muslim village of Zarzir, injuring 58. It hit a Mosque on Ramadan!
On March 1st, it struck a synagogue in Beit Shemesh, killing 9 Jews.
This mad regime attacks civilians everywhere, indiscriminately.
Israel and the United States are taking out Iran’s nuclear program – which it planned on immediately moving to a deep underground facility to achieve immunity from airstrikes.
We’re destroying its ballistic missiles program and military industry.
These don’t just threaten Israel, but also other countries in the Middle East and Europe.
This will directly impact European security for the better.
You of course know the extent of Iran’s contribution, in intelligence and weapons, to the war in Ukraine.
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.
The Iranians are also safer without them.
By the way, we still haven’t seen Mojtaba. Wouldn’t you like to see him, Minister? He should show his face because it’s beginning to be embarrassing for this regime.
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.
The Basij used cruel and violent methods against their own people.
In January, the regime butchered probably over 30,000 Iranians.
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.
*
The international community is facing a dangerous phenomenon of modern piracy, by terror states.
Terror states are violently taking over shipping lanes and harming the global economy.
The Houthis, an Iranian proxy, crippled the freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.
Now, the Iranian regime is blocking international shipping and the flow of energy through the Strait of Hormuz.
Yet it’s giving free and selective passage to Russia and China, for example.
This assassination of global order and trade – and the freedom of navigation – is driving up the cost of living in the whole world.
This isn’t simply and American and Israeli issue. It’s a global problem.
If this strategy is successful – tomorrow other regimes can act the same way in other places.
It can become the problem of the Baltic, Black or Mediterranean seas.
If Iranian piracy in the Strait of Hormuz isn’t crushed, this form of terror will spread around the world.
*
Under Iranian direction, Hezbollah joined the war against Israel.
So far it has launched around 2,000 missiles and drones at Israel. It’s an unbelievable number within two weeks.
Many more attacks have been launched from Lebanese territory than from Iran.
Our communities in the North are under attack. At times, too close for the sirens to alert them of incoming Hezbollah terror missiles.
These are the same citizens that spent a year away from their homes in 2024, after Hezbollah joined Hamas’s war against Israel.
The story of their suffering is not being told.
The international media only reports on what happens on the Lebanese side of the border.
What normal country wouldn’t act when facing such attacks?
Israel will defend its citizens and communities.
*
I remind you: In 2000, Israel completely withdrew from Lebanon, down to the last millimeter.
Since then, the Hezbollah terror state has grown and taken Lebanon hostage.
The Lebanese government committed to dismantling Hezbollah in the November 2024 ceasefire.
It didn’t do it.
And now, it’s not doing anything to stop Hezbollah’s attacks.
It hasn’t even fired the Hezbollah-affiliated ministers in the government.
We expect the Lebanese government to take immediate action to stop the attacks from its territory.
If they’re not willing to confront Hezbollah – they are in effect handing over Lebanon’s sovereignty and future to Iran.
*
Minister,
Estonia has already designated Hezbollah in its entirety – including its “political” wing – as a terror organization.
So have other European states: including Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, Lithuania, Latvia, the UK and the Netherlands.
The EU took the clear moral step of designating the Revolutionary Guards as a terror organization.
It would be fitting if it designated Hezbollah, in its entirety, as a terror organization too.
*
Dear Minister,
Our bilateral ties are strong.
We want to further strengthen them – in economy, defense and many other fields.
During my visit to Tallinn, I invited also the Defense Minister to visit Israel and see our defense-tech.
Israeli technology and defense products are the finest in the world.
They’re proving themselves today – on offense and defense.
Israel has much to offer, as does Estonia, the world leader in E-Governance.
I look forward, dear Margus, to working together to take our ties to the next level.
Thank you.”
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