Killing Khamenei won’t escalate, rather end conflict: Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told ABC News on Monday that targeting Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei would not escalate, but rather end, the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran that intensified late last week.
When asked by ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl about reports – confirmed by ABC and other outlets – that President Donald Trump had rejected an Israeli plan to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader over fears it could inflame tensions, Netanyahu responded, "It's not going to escalate the conflict – it's going to end the conflict."
"We've had half a century of conflict fuelled by this regime," Netanyahu said.
"Iran terrorises everyone in the Middle East, bombed the Aramco oil fields in Saudi Arabia, and spreads terrorism, subversion, and sabotage everywhere. The 'forever war' is what Iran wants – and they're bringing us to the brink of nuclear war. What Israel is doing is preventing that and bringing an end to this aggression. We can only do so by standing up to the forces of evil."
When asked directly if Israel would target the Iranian supreme leader, Netanyahu replied, "We are doing what we need to do."
"I'm not going to get into the details," he added, "but we have targeted their top nuclear scientists. It's essentially Hitler's nuclear team."
Netanyahu argued that it is in America’s interest to support Israel as it works to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program.
"Today, it's Tel Aviv. Tomorrow, it could be New York," he said. "I understand 'America First,' but I don't understand 'America Dead.' That's what these people want – they chant 'Death to America.' So we're fighting for humanity, in a battle of good against evil. America does, should, and does stand with the good. That's what President Trump is doing, and I deeply appreciate his support."
Israel’s prime minister also dismissed a Wall Street Journal report suggesting Iran has signalled to international partners its willingness to end hostilities and resume negotiations over its nuclear programme.
"I'm not surprised," Netanyahu said. "They want to continue holding fake talks where they lie, cheat, and string the US along. We have very solid intelligence on that. They want to keep building their nuclear weapons and amassing ballistic missiles, which they fire at our people. They aim to create two existential threats against Israel while pretending to negotiate. That’s not going to happen."
Asked to respond to some Republicans – including commentator Tucker Carlson – who oppose US military support for Israel in strikes against Iran, Netanyahu stressed that Iran represents a global threat.
"We’re not just fighting our enemy – we’re fighting your enemy," he said. "For God’s sake, they chant 'Death to Israel, death to America.' We are simply in their way. And this danger could soon reach America."
In a recent newsletter, Carlson wrote that “The United States should not at any level participate in a war with Iran. No funding, no American weapons, no troops on the ground,” and suggested that Israel should “fight their own wars.”
"We are taking action," Netanyahu replied.
"America is supporting us in defence. Deeply appreciated. But this is a threat to the entire world – a threat to Israel, to our Arab neighbours, to Europe, and to America. They chant 'Death to America.' Is it really someone’s argument that this is 'not your business'? That’s not myopia—that’s total blindness."
"Sometimes you have to take a stand against evil," he continued. "That’s what the American people instinctively understand—most of them, I have to say. And that’s what President Trump understands. We cannot allow this to happen."
