Occupied Jerusalem: In a provocative and alarming statement, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has directly threatened to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, amid renewed tensions following the recent Iran-Israel conflict.
Speaking during a visit to the Ramon Air Force Base, Katz warned that if Iran poses any further threat to Israel, the Israeli Air Force would respond aggressively — a threat that echoes the earlier revealed plot to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei by Israeli officials. He added that this message was intended to clearly demonstrate that Israel would not ignore any danger to its national security.
This aggressive rhetoric comes just days after a tense military confrontation between Iran and Israel had seemingly ended. The conflict erupted on June 13, when Israel launched aerial strikes on Iran’s military and nuclear sites. Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks on Israeli territory. The situation escalated further when the United States entered the fray, striking three of Iran’s nuclear facilities.
After days of intense violence, a ceasefire brokered by the United States was reached on June 24, temporarily de-escalating the hostilities. However, Katz’s latest statement has reignited fears of renewed warfare, casting doubt on the durability of the ceasefire.
Analysts believe that although the truce temporarily halted active combat, the underlying tensions between Iran and Israel — which have persisted for decades — remain unresolved. The June 2025 conflict marked the first time both nations were directly engaged in military combat. The Israeli Defense Minister’s latest remarks suggest that the region is still on a knife’s edge, and another full-scale war could erupt at any moment.
Global powers are closely monitoring the situation, concerned that such threats could destabilize not just the region but international security as well.
