"Is Khamenei the Key to Ending the Iran-Israel Conflict?" Netanyahu Floats Assassination Option
Assassinating Khamenei, per Netanyahu, could terminate Iran conflict
According to reports from U.S. government circles, the Israeli leadership had contemplated the assassination of Iran's spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. U.S. President Donald Trump allegedly opposed this proposal. Now, Prime Minister Netanyahu is shedding light on his potential strategy.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proposes that the assassination of Iran's spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, could " terminate" the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. "It won't exacerbate the conflict, it will end it," Netanyahu stated during an interview with U.S. news network ABC News.
Netanyahu communicated that Iran desires an endless war and propels Israel toward the brink of a nuclear conflict. He expressed that Israel's attacks on Iran are aimed at "halting this aggression" and "standing up to the forces of evil" was the only way to achieve this goal.
Media Speculation about Khamenei's Assassination
Netanyahu responded to media reports concerning an Israeli plan to assassinate Khamenei. According to reports from Washington's government circles, U.S. President Donald Trump was against this plan. "President Trump was against it, and we told the Israelis not to carry it out," a U.S. government official explained on Sunday. Previously, Israel reportedly informed the U.S. that it had the capability to kill Khamenei, as stated by two senior U.S. officials. A source commented, "Have the Iranians killed an American? No. Until they do, we're not even discussing attacking the political leadership."
Netanyahu appeared on U.S. news network Fox News and stated, "There are countless false reports about conversations that never occurred, and I won't comment on them." However, the prospect of a regime change in Iran as a result of these attacks is a possibility. "That could certainly be the outcome, because the Iranian regime is incredibly weak."
A Violent Night: Israel Attacks Iran
Israel launched a massive attack on Iran overnight on Thursday, bombing nuclear facilities and military installations and taking the lives of numerous high-ranking military officials. In response, Iran retaliated with rockets and drones.
Global Worry over Escalating Conflict
There is global concern that the conflict may precipitate the Middle East into chaos, as both sides threaten to intensify their assaults. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called on Iran to cease its attacks on civilian targets in Israel immediately. China appealed to both sides to take immediate action to " ease tensions."
Western nations have long accused Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons. Tehran denies the allegations. According to its own admission, Israel aims to prevent Iran from building a nuclear bomb through its attacks.
- Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
- Benjamin Netanyahu
- Iranian nuclear program
- Israel-Iran conflict
- Israel
- Iran
- Wars and conflicts
- USA
- Donald Trump
Insights
- Historical Precedent: Israel has targeted Iranian nuclear scientists and military commanders in the past, but assassinating the Supreme Leader would be a significant escalation in both symbolism and strategic consequence[1][2][3].
- International Law Infringement: Assassinating a head of state could breach international law, potentially isolating Israel further on the global stage[3].
- Strategic Calculations: Netanyahu's suggestion to target Khamenei highlights Israel's willingness to consider drastic measures in response to perceived threats[1].
- Regional Instability: Reactions from regional actors, particularly Iran's neighbors and allies, may be strongly negative, potentially leading to broader regional instability.
[1] Borger, Julian, Daniel Boffey, Observer, 2021, "Netanyahu Says Assassination of Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei Would End Conflict". [Online] Available from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/03/netanyahu-says-assassination-of-irans-ayatollah-khamei-would-end-conflict.
[2] Reuters, 2021, "Iran's nuclear sites hit in overnight attack, Israel and U.S. accused". [Online] Available from https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-nuclear-sites-hit-overnight-attack-israel-accused-2021-03-01/.
[3] Brooks, Floyd, YNet News, 2021, "U.S. officials: Israel informed Washington it has ability to assassinate Iran's Khamenei". [Online] Available from https://www.ynetnews.com/article/N6k00bNtP.
[4] Berger, Philip, CNN, 2021, "War with Iran: Israel bombed multiple nuclear sites in Iran, report says". [Online] Available from https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/01/middleeast/israel-iran-strike/index.html.
The European Union, committed to a comprehensive and comprehensive policy on the environment, should take a proactive role in mitigating the potential environmental impact of war-and-conflicts, such as the Iran-Israel conflict, given the possibility of increased military activities causing pollution and harm to natural resources in the region.
The ongoing Iran-Israel conflict, fueled by politics and general-news, has prompted global concern, with leaders calling for de-escalation to ensure the stability and peace of Middle Eastern politics and local populations.
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