Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not rule out a potential assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during a Monday interview with ABC News, suggesting such a move would “end the conflict” rather than escalate it.
When asked about reports that U.S. President Donald Trump had recently blocked an Israeli plan to target Khamenei, Netanyahu dismissed concerns over escalation. “It’s not going to escalate the conflict, it’s going to end the conflict,” he said. “We’ve had half a century of conflict spread by this regime.”
Netanyahu painted Iran’s leadership as the root cause of instability in the Middle East, accusing them of pursuing nuclear weapons and expanding ballistic missile capabilities. “Today it’s Tel Aviv, tomorrow it’s New York,” he warned, appealing directly to American interests.
He emphasized that Israel is not just defending itself, but standing in the way of a broader threat. “We’re not just fighting our enemy. We’re fighting your enemy,” he said. “They chant, ‘Death to Israel, death to America.’”
While Netanyahu declined to confirm whether Israel intends to target Khamenei, he made clear that “we’re doing what we need to do” to stop Iran’s aggression and nuclear ambitions.
Over the weekend, multiple reports claimed that Israel had a window to strike Khamenei last Friday, but Trump blocked the operation to avoid further escalation. Israeli officials denied the reports, calling them “fake news.”
The ABC interview marked Netanyahu’s second U.S. media appearance in as many days, part of a broader push to justify Israel’s military actions as necessary for both Israeli and American security.
As tensions soar in the Middle East, Netanyahu’s comments signal that Israel is prepared to take bolder actions — with or without Washington’s approval.
