Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he is not ruling out targeting Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, adding that such a move would bring the conflict to a close rather than inflame it.
“It’s not going to escalate the conflict, it’s going to end the conflict,” Netanyahu told ABC News in a wide-ranging interview aired Monday. His remarks came amid reports that former US President Donald Trump had previously rejected an Israeli proposal to eliminate Khamenei.
Pressed by ABC’s Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl about those reports, Netanyahu neither confirmed nor denied them but reiterated, “We will do what we need to do.”
Trump rejected Israeli plan to kill Khamenei
According to Reuters and CBS News, Israeli officials had recently informed the Trump administration of an opportunity to assassinate Khamenei. However, Trump is said to have vetoed the idea. One US official told CBS News, “The Israelis had the opportunity… and Mr Trump conveyed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that it wasn't a good idea.”
A second US source said, “Have the Iranians killed an American yet? No. Until they do, we’re not even talking about going after the political leadership.”
When asked again about the story on Fox News, Netanyahu said, “There’s so many false reports of conversations that never happened and I’m not going to get into that.”
A spokesperson for the Israeli PM later told CBS the reports were “false,” though a separate Israeli official in Washington admitted that “in principle,” Israel doesn’t assassinate political leaders. “We are focused on nuclear and military. I don’t think anyone making decisions about those programs should be living free and easy,” the official said, suggesting Khamenei was fair game.
Also Read: Netanyahu suggests killing Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would end conflict
“Hitler’s nuclear team”
Throughout his ABC interview, Netanyahu painted a stark picture of the Iranian regime.
“We’ve targeted their top nuclear scientists,” he said, without naming individuals. “It’s basically Hitler’s nuclear team.” He insisted Israel’s actions were aimed at stopping Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, not provoking war.
“What Israel is doing is preventing this, bringing an end to this aggression,” he said. “We can only do so by standing up to the forces of evil.”
He claimed the Ayatollah-led regime had driven the Middle East towards what he called a “forever war” and was bringing the world “to the brink of nuclear war.”
Also Read: Blind radar, blistering speed: How Israeli jets crippled Iran’s air defence in 48 hours, something Russia couldn't do in 3 years
On Iran, Trump, and America first
In a defence of his country’s military campaign, Netanyahu invoked American security.
“Today, it’s Tel Aviv. Tomorrow, it’s New York,” he said. “Look, I understand ‘America First’. I don’t understand ‘America Dead’. That’s what these people want. They chant ‘Death to America’.”
He thanked former President Trump for backing Israel. “That’s what President Trump understands. Sometimes you have to take a stand against evil. And that’s what the American people instinctively understand. Most of them, I have to say.”
Trump himself has not publicly confirmed or denied the assassination reports. However, on Sunday he warned Tehran via Truth Social: “If we are attacked in any way… the full strength and might of the US Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before.”
Also Read: Sea shield activated: How Israel’s navy used India-developed missile tech to stop Iran’s drones
Casualties mount, talks dismissed
The conflict between Israel and Iran entered its fourth day on Monday. According to Iran’s health ministry, Israeli strikes have killed at least 224 people and injured over 1,200. On the Israeli side, Iranian missile and drone attacks have killed 24 people and wounded nearly 600, according to Netanyahu’s office.
When asked about a Wall Street Journal report that Iran is seeking to resume nuclear talks, Netanyahu dismissed it outright.
“I’m not surprised,” he said. “They want to continue to have these fake talks in which they lie, they cheat, they string the US along.”
He added, “They want to keep building their nuclear weapons and mass ballistic missile arsenal, which they’re firing at our people. That’s not going to happen.”
“Not just our enemy, your enemy too”
Netanyahu also responded to criticism from American conservatives who argue the US should avoid entanglement in the Iran-Israel conflict.
Tucker Carlson recently wrote, “The United States should not at any level participate in a war with Iran.” But Netanyahu insisted that Iran threatens the world.
“They chant ‘Death to Israel, death to America’,” he said. “We’re simply on their way. And this could reach America soon.”
“We’re taking the action. America is supporting us in defence. Deeply, deeply appreciated,” he added.
The US State Department has since upgraded its travel advisory for Israel and the West Bank to Level 4: Do Not Travel.
“It’s not going to escalate the conflict, it’s going to end the conflict,” Netanyahu told ABC News in a wide-ranging interview aired Monday. His remarks came amid reports that former US President Donald Trump had previously rejected an Israeli proposal to eliminate Khamenei.
Pressed by ABC’s Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl about those reports, Netanyahu neither confirmed nor denied them but reiterated, “We will do what we need to do.”
Trump rejected Israeli plan to kill Khamenei
According to Reuters and CBS News, Israeli officials had recently informed the Trump administration of an opportunity to assassinate Khamenei. However, Trump is said to have vetoed the idea. One US official told CBS News, “The Israelis had the opportunity… and Mr Trump conveyed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that it wasn't a good idea.”
A second US source said, “Have the Iranians killed an American yet? No. Until they do, we’re not even talking about going after the political leadership.”
When asked again about the story on Fox News, Netanyahu said, “There’s so many false reports of conversations that never happened and I’m not going to get into that.”
A spokesperson for the Israeli PM later told CBS the reports were “false,” though a separate Israeli official in Washington admitted that “in principle,” Israel doesn’t assassinate political leaders. “We are focused on nuclear and military. I don’t think anyone making decisions about those programs should be living free and easy,” the official said, suggesting Khamenei was fair game.
Also Read: Netanyahu suggests killing Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would end conflict
“Hitler’s nuclear team”
Throughout his ABC interview, Netanyahu painted a stark picture of the Iranian regime.
“We’ve targeted their top nuclear scientists,” he said, without naming individuals. “It’s basically Hitler’s nuclear team.” He insisted Israel’s actions were aimed at stopping Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, not provoking war.
“What Israel is doing is preventing this, bringing an end to this aggression,” he said. “We can only do so by standing up to the forces of evil.”
He claimed the Ayatollah-led regime had driven the Middle East towards what he called a “forever war” and was bringing the world “to the brink of nuclear war.”
Also Read: Blind radar, blistering speed: How Israeli jets crippled Iran’s air defence in 48 hours, something Russia couldn't do in 3 years
On Iran, Trump, and America first
In a defence of his country’s military campaign, Netanyahu invoked American security.
“Today, it’s Tel Aviv. Tomorrow, it’s New York,” he said. “Look, I understand ‘America First’. I don’t understand ‘America Dead’. That’s what these people want. They chant ‘Death to America’.”
He thanked former President Trump for backing Israel. “That’s what President Trump understands. Sometimes you have to take a stand against evil. And that’s what the American people instinctively understand. Most of them, I have to say.”
Trump himself has not publicly confirmed or denied the assassination reports. However, on Sunday he warned Tehran via Truth Social: “If we are attacked in any way… the full strength and might of the US Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before.”
Also Read: Sea shield activated: How Israel’s navy used India-developed missile tech to stop Iran’s drones
Casualties mount, talks dismissed
The conflict between Israel and Iran entered its fourth day on Monday. According to Iran’s health ministry, Israeli strikes have killed at least 224 people and injured over 1,200. On the Israeli side, Iranian missile and drone attacks have killed 24 people and wounded nearly 600, according to Netanyahu’s office.
When asked about a Wall Street Journal report that Iran is seeking to resume nuclear talks, Netanyahu dismissed it outright.
“I’m not surprised,” he said. “They want to continue to have these fake talks in which they lie, they cheat, they string the US along.”
He added, “They want to keep building their nuclear weapons and mass ballistic missile arsenal, which they’re firing at our people. That’s not going to happen.”
“Not just our enemy, your enemy too”
Netanyahu also responded to criticism from American conservatives who argue the US should avoid entanglement in the Iran-Israel conflict.
Tucker Carlson recently wrote, “The United States should not at any level participate in a war with Iran.” But Netanyahu insisted that Iran threatens the world.
“They chant ‘Death to Israel, death to America’,” he said. “We’re simply on their way. And this could reach America soon.”
“We’re taking the action. America is supporting us in defence. Deeply, deeply appreciated,” he added.
The US State Department has since upgraded its travel advisory for Israel and the West Bank to Level 4: Do Not Travel.
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