Netanyahu’s Bold Claim: Eliminating Iran’s Supreme Leader Would End War, Not Escalate It
Tel Aviv:
As the Israel-Iran conflict rages into its fourth day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a significant statement, insisting that targeting Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would bring the conflict to a close — not escalate it.
Netanyahu’s remarks came shortly after U.S. officials revealed that former President Donald Trump had blocked an Israeli plan to assassinate the Iranian leader, fearing it would worsen tensions. In an interview with ABC News, Netanyahu responded directly:
“It’s not going to escalate the conflict; it’s going to end the conflict,” he said.
Both Iran and Israel have exchanged heavy missile fire over the past four days, striking military and civilian sites alike. With rising casualties and infrastructure damage on both sides, experts fear the situation is spiraling into a full-blown regional war. Governments on both sides have urged citizens to brace for prolonged hostilities.
Netanyahu accused Iran of seeking a “forever war” and claimed Israel’s actions are aimed at halting the march toward a potential nuclear catastrophe.
“What Israel is doing is preventing this, putting an end to aggression. We can only do that by confronting the forces of evil,” he stated.
According to intelligence sources, Iran’s Supreme Leader and his family have reportedly been relocated to a fortified underground bunker at an undisclosed location. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has assumed full responsibility for his protection. As of Monday night, Khamenei was said to be safe and actively directing Iran’s military response.
The initial report on Trump’s intervention came from Reuters, citing senior Trump administration officials who claimed that Israel had identified an opportunity to strike the Ayatollah but was told to stand down by Washington. While it remains unclear whether Trump personally conveyed the message, he is said to have maintained regular contact with Netanyahu during that period.
When asked about the reports in a Fox News interview, Netanyahu was evasive, saying,
“There are so many false reports about conversations that never happened. I won’t comment on those. But I’ll say this: Israel will do what it needs to do, and I believe the U.S. understands what’s in its own best interest.”
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
