Israel’s Katz: “We aimed to eliminate Khamenei“
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz stated that the United States has given Israel a “green light” to carry out another attack on Iran if Tehran makes further progress in its nuclear programme. Speaking to Israeli media, Katz emphasized that Washington fully understands Israel’s concerns and would support further military action if deemed necessary. The statement follows heightened regional tensions after Israel’s recent strikes on Iranian facilities. Katz warned that Iran’s nuclear ambitions remain a direct threat to both Israel and global stability, and reiterated that Israel will act independently if required to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons capability at any cost.
Israel Planned to Kill Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei During War, Says Defence Minister Katz
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has revealed that Israel had planned to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during the recent 12-day conflict between the two nations. The war, which concluded earlier this week with a US-brokered ceasefire, saw intense exchanges between Israel, the United States, and Iran.
Prior approval from the United States, directly contradicting earlier reports suggesting Washington had blocked the plan.
Taken over after the initial Israeli airstrikes killed several senior leaders of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Despite Katz’s assertions, Khamenei continued to appear publicly via video addresses during the war. Iranian sources deny he was ever cut off from his generals, casting doubt on claims of his isolation. However, intelligence sources suggest that precautionary security measures were implemented to avoid decapitation strikes by Israeli or US forces.
Targeting Khamenei would have marked a dramatic escalation. As Iran’s Supreme Leader, Khamenei holds the country’s highest political and religious authority, serving as both head of state and the spiritual figurehead for millions of Shia Muslims globally. An assassination attempt would likely have triggered a broader regional conflict, with unpredictable consequences.
The war itself was marked by a series of high-profile strikes, beginning with US-led bombings of Iran’s key nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. These attacks, coordinated closely with Israel, were aimed at crippling Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities. While Washington claimed significant success, Khamenei accused the US of exaggerating the damage, asserting on Thursday that the Iranian programme had not been fundamentally derailed.
Israel’s Katz also stated that the Trump administration has given Israel a “green light” to launch another strike on Iran if there is evidence that Tehran is making renewed progress on its nuclear ambitions. “I do not see a situation where Iran will restore the nuclear facilities after the attack,” Katz said, reinforcing Israel’s readiness for preemptive action if needed.
Amid the diplomatic fallout from the conflict, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed Katz’s assertive tone. Speaking in a video address on Thursday, Netanyahu hailed the outcome of the war as a “great victory” for Israel and claimed it had created a “window of opportunity” to expand formal diplomatic relations with Arab nations. This comment appeared to reference the Abraham Accords — a series of normalization agreements brokered in 2020 that saw Israel establish ties with the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan.
His statement suggests Israel sees the military success as not only weakening Iran but also as strengthening its hand in regional diplomacy.
Former US President Donald Trump, who has remained vocal throughout the conflict, also appeared to support regime change in Iran. In a social media post last Sunday, Trump wrote that the war “could MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN,” echoing his previous rhetoric aimed at toppling the Islamic Republic’s leadership.
Meanwhile, Iran has also claimed victory. Iranian officials said the aim of the US-Israeli campaign had been to destroy Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes and weaken the regime, but insisted these efforts had failed.
The attack marked a turning point that pushed the US to negotiate a ceasefire, mediated by Qatari and Omani diplomats.
With tensions still high, and conflicting narratives emerging from both sides, the future of the Iran-Israel conflict remains uncertain. While open warfare has paused for now, the political and military leadership on both sides appear poised for further escalation should conditions change.