Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a sharp warning directed at Iran’s new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, saying Israel would not rule out taking action against him in the same way it had targeted other leaders it considers hostile.
The remarks come as tensions between Israel and Iran remain high, with both countries accusing each other of fuelling instability across the Middle East. Israel has repeatedly alleged that Tehran supports militant groups in several parts of the region, while Iran has rejected the charges and criticised Israeli military operations.
When asked whether Israel could attempt to target Mojtaba Khamenei, the son and successor of Iran’s former supreme leader, Netanyahu stopped short of giving a direct answer but made it clear that Israel does not intend to shield leaders it sees as responsible for supporting militant networks.
“I wouldn’t issue life insurance policies on any of the leaders of the terrorist organizations. This is their patron of terrorism. And I don’t intend to provide an exact report here about what we are planning or what we are going to do,” Netanyahu said.
The Israeli prime minister also criticised the new Iranian leader, describing him as heavily influenced by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). According to Netanyahu, Khamenei is “a puppet” of the powerful military force and “cannot show his face in public”.
Netanyahu claims regional balance is changing
Netanyahu suggested that the strategic situation in the Middle East has shifted in recent years, with Israel taking a more assertive approach in confronting threats linked to Iran.
“Even now it can be said with certainty: This is no longer the same Iran. This is no longer the same Middle East. And this is also not the same Israel. We are not waiting, we are initiating, we are attacking. And we are doing so with a force the like of which has not been seen before,” he said.
He also indicated that Israeli actions are aimed at weakening Iran’s leadership and potentially creating conditions that could trigger political change within the country.
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Israeli leader says change in Iran depends on its people
Netanyahu said Israel’s efforts could help open the door for change inside Iran, but acknowledged that the final outcome would depend entirely on the Iranian people.
“I have added another goal: to create the conditions for the Iranian people to overthrow this terrible tyrannical regime. To create conditions doesn’t guarantee that it will happen. And I told them just now in what I said a moment ago. I said ‘It’s up to you.’ It depends on you,” he said.
At the same time, he admitted that outside pressure alone cannot determine Iran’s political future.
“You can lead someone to water, but you can’t make them drink,” Netanyahu said, referring to the possibility of a popular uprising against the Islamic Republic.
Israel has carried out several operations in recent years targeting what it describes as Iranian military assets and allied groups in neighbouring countries. Israeli officials say the aim is to prevent Tehran from strengthening its military footprint close to Israeli territory. Iran, however, denies the accusations and has repeatedly condemned Israeli strikes in the region.