The Israeli prime minister suggested that eliminating Iran’s supreme leader could resolve the ongoing conflict.
As tensions between Israel and Iran continue to rise, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not dismissed the possibility of assassinating Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Since last Friday, Israel and Iran have been exchanging attacks, beginning with Israel’s bombing of Iranian nuclear and military sites. Israel claimed this was to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Israel has also attacked civilian areas, causing casualties, and on Monday. The US, which was in nuclear talks with Iran mediated by Oman before the attack, has supported Israel’s actions.
In a Monday interview with ABC News, Netanyahu was asked about reports that US President Donald Trump had rejected an Israeli plan to assassinate the Iranian leader, fearing further escalation.
“It’s not going to escalate the conflict, it’s going to end the conflict,” the Israeli prime minister stated.
“The ‘forever war’ is what Iran wants, and they’re bringing us to the brink of nuclear war. In fact, what Israel is doing is preventing this, bringing an end to this aggression,” he asserted.
When questioned directly about targeting Khamenei, Netanyahu responded, “Look, we’re doing what we need to do. I’m not going to get into the details, but we’ve targeted their top nuclear scientists.”
Israel claims to have killed at least ten Iranian nuclear scientists in targeted bombings since last week. Iran has long accused Israel of secretly assassinating its leading nuclear experts for over a decade before the current hostilities.
Netanyahu has framed the Israeli attack as a “service” to protect the US and the rest of the world from Iran.
“Today, it’s Tel Aviv. Tomorrow, it’s New York. Look, I understand ‘America First’. I don’t understand ‘America Dead’,” he said, adding that Israel would need Washington’s assistance to completely eliminate Iran’s nuclear program.
Reports indicate Israel has requested direct US involvement in strikes against Iran. According to Axios on Saturday, citing Israeli officials, the Israeli Air Force lacks the bunker-buster bombs necessary to destroy Iran’s deep underground nuclear facilities, which the US could provide.
Tehran has consistently maintained that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes and has accused Israel of sabotaging its negotiations with the US.
“Iran did NOT begin this war and has no interest in perpetuating bloodshed. But we will proudly fight to the last drop of blood to protect our land,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X on Monday. He warned that “getting the US mired in the Mother of Forever Wars” would eliminate any possibility of a diplomatic resolution.
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