The Israeli government has taken an unprecedented step by announcing that the “elimination” of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is now one of its official war goals.
Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, made the bold declaration during a televised interview. “A man like Khamenei, who constantly calls for the destruction of Israel, cannot be allowed to continue,” Katz said. “This man must not stay alive. Eliminating him is now part of our campaign.”
This statement marks a major shift in Israel’s approach—from focusing on Iran’s nuclear programme to now openly targeting its leadership.
The development follows recent Iranian missile strikes on Israel. Four locations were hit, including Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba—one of Israel’s biggest hospitals. Iran claimed it was aiming for a nearby military intelligence site.
In response, Israel launched an airstrike on Iran’s Arak nuclear site. Although the site is not in use, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that there were “no radiological effects” from the Israeli attack.
The IAEA also reported that Iran is not fully cooperating with nuclear inspection rules, but said there’s no proof that Iran is building nuclear weapons. Iran dismissed the report as biased and claimed it gave Israel a “pretext” to strike.
The rising tension has already caused panic across the region. Bulgaria has shut its embassy in Tehran and evacuated its diplomats. In Israel, areas around Tel Aviv’s stock exchange were sealed off due to falling debris, while a missile strike in Holon led to a building collapse.
In a related move, Turkiye (Turkey) has boosted security along its border with Iran and increased air patrols, saying it is on high alert. The US military has also moved aircraft away from its base in Qatar and Bahrain as a precaution.
Former US President Donald Trump weighed in, posting online: “We are not going to take him out (kill!) at least not for now … Our patience is wearing thin.”
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he will meet with officials from Britain, France, and Germany in Geneva, along with the EU’s top diplomat, in a bid to reduce tensions.
Observers warn that the situation is becoming increasingly dangerous, with the threat of wider conflict growing by the day.
