Netanyahu claims removing Khamenei will end the conflict
- Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that assassinating the Iranian Supreme Leader would not escalate but rather end the ongoing conflict.
- He expressed concerns over Iran's nuclear ambitions and compared Khamenei to a modern tyrant.
- There is skepticism regarding the potential for regime change within Iran due to public sentiment against foreign intervention.
In June 2025, tensions escalated between Israel and Iran as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized the necessity of targeting Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to end ongoing hostilities. During an interview with ABC, Netanyahu dismissed concerns regarding potential escalation, asserting that eliminating the Iranian leadership would conclude a longstanding conflict. He framed Iran as a paramount threat, likening Khamenei to a modern Hitler, and remarked that the goal of current Israeli military operations might lead to regime change in Iran, which he described as a weakening government. Despite increasing Israeli aggressiveness, various experts noted that public sentiment in Iran remains largely unsupportive of foreign intervention against the regime, making the prospect of regime change uncertain.