Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared in an ABC News interview that targeting Ayatollah Ali Khamenei could end Israel’s conflict with Iran – an assertion which escalated tensions amid rising regional hostilities.
Netanyahu’s Bold Assertion
When asked whether Israel would move against Khamenei, PM Netanyahu made an unapologetic assertion: It will “not escalate but end” conflict – portraying this statement as a decisive move towards solving Iran crisis and crisis resolution, according to multiple media reports (The Times (UK), Economic Times and New York Post respectively).
He likened the supreme leader’s inner circle to Hitler’s nuclear team, viewing them as potential existential threats who justify such drastic measures as hindustantimes.com
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Context of Escalation Netanyahu’s remarks came amid Israel’s “Operation Rising Lion”, an air campaign launched on June 13 that targeted over 100 military and nuclear sites across Iran – from missile launchers and enrichment facilities to command centers – during an air campaign known as Operation Rising Lion. This major air campaign targeted over 100 military and nuclear sites including missile launchers, enrichment facilities and command centers within Iran’s borders. Initially it targeted over 70 Iranian military targets including missile launchers, enrichment facilities and command centers before moving onto other targets over 100 military and nuclear targets across Iran with missile launchers targeting 100 military and nuclear sites before moving into territory held by US forces during Operation Rising Lion on June 13. This air campaign targeted over 100 military and nuclear sites within Iran which included missile launchers launching sites as well as military/nuclear facilities which targeted Iranian military/nuclear bases across its territory including missile launchers/enrichment facilities, command centers among others, along its borders including missile launchers/enrichment facilities as well as command centers before landing there for hits to land upon which Israel launched “Operation Rising Lion”, targeting over 100 military/nuclear sites across Iran including missile launchers/enrichment facilities etc; whilst US/wikipedia.org will likely launch another big war and hit Iran targeting over 100 military/ nuclear sites targeting over 100 sites over its borders targeting over 100 military/ nuclear targets over 100 military sites including missile launchers/enrichment facilities as command centers/command centers within. enrichment/command centers etc as command centers etc
Iranian officials report 224 civilian deaths since September 4, while Israel has endured retaliatory missile strikes that have caused scores of casualties – mostly civilians – through Israel’s response, whilst Iran has reported over 100 civilian deaths since March 8.
He asserted that Iran had previously attempted to assassinate him via drone, giving Israel justification for targeting its core leadership nypost.com
U.S. Opposition and Diplomatic Tension
This interview coincided with reports that former President Trump had opposed an Israeli plan to assassinate Khamenei, reasoning that an attack could only escalate tension rather than resolve it (en.apa.az/, apnews.com/, moneycontrol/).
Trump advocated for diplomacy over confrontation, advocating backchannel talks and expressing hope for an imminent “deal” between Israel and Iran.
International Implications Netanyahu’s hardline position has caused great alarm among global leaders. Countries including Britain, Germany and France have voiced strong concerns and called for maximum restraint to prevent further escalation. Furthermore, both nations were encouraged to return to diplomacy before violence consumes the region.
Iran has threatened harsh retaliation against any US action and is considering leaving the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty altogether, both moves which could undermine international nuclear safeguards, according to The Times (UK).
Internal and Regional Implications
Domestically, Netanyahu’s approach aims to boost support by portraying Iran’s leadership as irredeemable and an immediate threat to Israeli existence. At a regional level, targeting assassinations raises the stakes considerably by inviting U.S. involvement and sparking widespread instability.
What’s Next? With Benjamin Netanyahu refusing to rule out such decisive action, international pressure for de-escalation is building. Yet the U.S. has shown limits in direct involvement; observers caution that any move against Iran’s top leader may disrupt fragile diplomatic ties or lead to wider war.
As both nations exchange fire and global leaders search for diplomatic openings, Netanyahu’s statements mark an important turning point. Now the entire world awaits to see if diplomacy can regain control of this crisis or whether confrontation will erupt further.