Israel wanted to assassinate Khamenei during 12-day war: Katz

Israeli Defence Minister said that Israel intended to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during the recent 12-day war with Tehran, asserting that US approval was not required. 

In an interview with Israel’s Channel 13, Israel Katz confirmed that targeting Khamenei was a key objective, declaring, “We wanted to eliminate Khamenei, but there was no operational opportunity.”

He further emphasised that Israel did not require US approval to carry out the assassination, appearing to push back against earlier reports suggesting that Washington vetoed the plan.

Read: Ayatollah Khamenei’s adviser recovers after Israeli assassination attempt

Katz claimed that Khamenei was aware of the threat to his life and subsequently went "underground to very great depths," severing communication with top commanders.

These commanders had replaced senior leaders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) who were killed in the initial wave of Israeli airstrikes.

Despite these assertions, there is no independent evidence to suggest that Khamenei was ever fully disconnected from his military leadership during the conflict. The Iranian leader released several video messages throughout the war, maintaining a public presence.

Read: ‘Khamenei is modern Hitler,’ says Israeli defence minister after visiting ruins of Tel Aviv attack

Assassinating Ayatollah Khamenei would have marked a dramatic escalation, potentially plunging the Middle East into broader chaos. Beyond his political authority, Khamenei holds immense religious influence as the highest spiritual figure for millions of Shia Muslims around the globe.

The conflict had already drawn international concern, with both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former US President Donald Trump suggesting that the war could lead to regime change in Iran.

Trump, in a controversial social media post last Sunday, hinted at supporting the ouster of Khamenie's government in an attempt to “MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN.”

The ceasefire brokered earlier this week brought a temporary halt to hostilities, but Katz’s statements now risk reigniting diplomatic tensions and raising fears of renewed confrontation in the volatile region.