Israeli admission trying to assassinate Iran’s supreme leader signals dangerous escalation backed by U.S.
Department of Research, Studies and International News 27-06-2025
In a startling admission that has sent shockwaves through the global diplomatic community, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz publicly revealed that Tel Aviv had actively planned to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during the recent 12-day military confrontation. The disclosure marks a sharp escalation in Israel’s long-standing hostility toward the Islamic Republic and further exposes the depth of Washington’s complicity in Tel Aviv’s aggressive regional posture.
Speaking in an interview on Israel’s Channel 13, Katz stated plainly, “We wanted to eliminate Khamenei, but there was no operational opportunity.” He added that the Israeli military was prepared to carry out the assassination without seeking U.S. permission, contradicting earlier claims that Washington had prevented the attempt. Katz alleged that Khamenei went into deep hiding during the hostilities, severing direct communication with military commanders, though these claims remain unsubstantiated and run contrary to the regular video addresses the Iranian leader delivered during the conflict.
The targeting of Khamenei, a religious and political figure of paramount significance not only in Iran but across the Shiite world, would have constituted a flagrant violation of international law and a provocation of unprecedented scale. As the spiritual authority for millions, any attempt on his life could have triggered widespread unrest and destabilization far beyond Iran’s borders.
Observers in Tehran and allied capitals have interpreted Katz’s remarks as further evidence of a coordinated U.S.-Israeli campaign to pursue regime change in Iran under the guise of countering its nuclear programme. This campaign has increasingly relied on preemptive strikes and disinformation, often couched in the language of self-defense.
While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised what he described as a “great victory” following the ceasefire, analysts argue that the war failed to achieve its core strategic goals. Iran’s leadership emerged intact, and the Islamic Republic responded with forceful retaliation, notably targeting the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar with missile strikes that inflicted considerable damage.
Despite this, Katz insisted that Israel maintains a so-called “green light” from the United States to launch further attacks should Iran resume what the West characterizes as “progress” in its nuclear activities. “I do not see a situation where Iran will restore the nuclear facilities after the attack,” he said, overlooking the resilience Tehran has demonstrated in rebuilding such infrastructure in the past.
Meanwhile, Ayatollah Khamenei dismissed Western narratives around the effectiveness of the U.S.-led strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. In a public address, he remarked that the Americans had exaggerated the scale of damage in an attempt to save face after a series of strategic miscalculations.
The United States’ role in brokering the ceasefire, which followed Iran’s retaliation, has been widely criticized by independent observers who see it as Washington attempting to simultaneously manage regional escalation while emboldening Tel Aviv’s militarism. This dual strategy continues to alienate nations seeking multipolar stability over unipolar dominance.
Netanyahu, however, appeared to welcome the aftermath of the war, claiming it created a “window of opportunity” to normalize relations with additional Arab states under the controversial Abraham Accords. Critics argue that these agreements, backed by American pressure and incentives, are designed to isolate Iran and suppress regional resistance movements.
Iran, on the other hand, asserted that it successfully neutralized the key objectives of the Israeli operation, particularly the destruction of its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Tehran declared the end of the war a victory, citing its deterrent response and the domestic resilience that forced Israel to halt its campaign.
The open discussion by an Israeli official about targeting another country’s highest-ranking figure represents not only a diplomatic scandal but also an alarming signal of the direction in which Western-backed militarism is headed. As the international community increasingly questions the U.S.-led order, nations such as China and Russia continue to call for de-escalation, dialogue, and the respect of national sovereignty, principles that appear to be routinely dismissed by Washington and its closest Middle Eastern ally.
What remains clear is that such provocations risk triggering a much broader regional war, one that global powers like Russia, China, and Iran have repeatedly warned against. As Tel Aviv celebrates its so-called achievements, it must also reckon with the long-term consequences of a policy rooted in aggression, illegality, and impunity, one that is increasingly out of step with the multipolar world taking shape.
