We pray for regime change: Israeli envoy's message to Iran meets silence at UN

Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon delivered a pointed message to Iran at the UN General Assembly on Thursday, saying, “we pray for regime change,” as he approached an Iranian diplomat and offered him a Starlink satellite internet receiver.

Danon, who later posted footage of the exchange, told Nasser Asadi that the device could help the Iranian people gain freedom and asked him to take it back to Tehran.

“If you heard the Prime Minister (Benjamin Netanyahu), you would understand how useful it could be in helping the Iranian people gain their freedom after what you did to them. Do you want to take it and deliver it back to Tehran? It could be very useful for people in Iran. We love the Iranian people, and we pray for regime change in Iran. The day will come,” he can be heard saying in the video.

But the message was met with silence. Asadi ignored Danon, looked away and did not engage in a conversation with him. The Iranian representative didn’t want the starlink :( pic.twitter.com/wpElxvrrr4— Danny Danon (@dannydanon) September 24, 2026

Earlier on Thursday, Netanyahu had displayed the Starlink device during his UNGA address, saying it could help Iranians bypass internet censorship. He also said he would leave it for the Iranian delegation to use if its members defected.

“So when they inevitably defect, they too will be able to freely tell their story on social media,” Netanyahu said, adding that it was only a matter of time before the Iranian authorities were toppled by the people.

The exchange came as Netanyahu used his UN address to mount a forceful defence of Israel’s actions in the region amid growing international criticism.

Dozens of delegates walked out as he began speaking. Netanyahu called the departing delegates “moral cowards”, while supporters in the gallery chanted in Hebrew, “The people of Israel live.”

He also criticised New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani for calling him a war criminal and accused Western European leaders of succumbing to what he called “antisemitic mobs”.

“You tried to stop me from coming here. You tried. You tried to silence me. Well, you can’t silence me. You can’t silence the truth,” Netanyahu said of Mamdani.

“Here’s a simple truth: Israel didn’t commit genocide. Israel prevented genocide. To all those spreading these lies about my country and about our brave soldiers, whether they sit in this hall or in the office of the antisemitic mayor of New York, I say this: Shame on you!” he said.- Ends