Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a direct address to the people of Iran on Monday, claiming that Tehran 'doesn't care a whit about them', during a speech in Tel Aviv.

“I speak a lot about the leaders of Iran. Yet at this pivotal moment, I want to address you – the people of Iran. I want to do so directly, without filters, without middlemen,” Netanyahu said.

“The vast majority of Iranians know their regime doesn't care a whit about them. If it did care, if it cared about you, it would stop wasting billions of dollars on futile wars across the Middle East. It would start improving your lives,” he added.

“There is nowhere in the Middle East Israel cannot reach. There is nowhere we will not go to protect our people and protect our country,” he continued. “Every day, their puppets are eliminated. Ask Mohammed Deif. Ask [Hezbollah leader Hassan] Nasrallah.”

The Israeli PM claimed that the Iranian regime would fall ‘a lot sooner than people think’.

“When Iran is finally free and that moment will come a lot sooner than people think – everything will be different. Our two ancient peoples, the Jewish people and the Persian people, will finally be at peace," he said.

“The people of Iran should know – Israel stands with you."

There was no comment from Tehran.

The speech came as Israel reportedly prepared to launch a ground incursion against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, after a week of airstrikes and the assassination of Nasrallah on Friday.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei praised Nasrallah and warned Israel that "all the resistance forces in the region stand by Hezbollah.”