Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that a potential operation targeting Iran’s Supreme Leader would "end the conflict" rather than escalate it, framing the strategy as a path to resolution rather than provocation.
Speaking to ABC News anchor Jonathan Karl in an exclusive interview, Netanyahu commented on reports that Israel had considered a plan to strike Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. U.S. officials told Reuters that President Donald Trump had rejected the proposal, citing concerns it could intensify the conflict.
Netanyahu disagreed. "It's not going to escalate the conflict. It's going to end the conflict," he said.
Earlier in the interview, the Israeli leader criticised previous diplomatic efforts with Iran, claiming they were undermined by Tehran’s continued hostility.
"We gave it a chance. We clenched our teeth," Netanyahu said.
"But even during negotiations with the United States, Iran's supreme leader tweeted 'death to Israel' almost every day. The talks were merely a facade."
When asked directly whether Israel was planning to target Khamenei, Netanyahu declined to confirm details.
"Look, we're doing what we need to do. I'm not going to get into the details."
The interview comes in the wake of Israel’s 13 June operation, which reportedly targeted senior Iranian military figures and nuclear infrastructure. Iran responded with a series of missile attacks, marking one of the most intense escalations between the two countries in years.
The U.S. administration has called for restraint while reaffirming its support for Israel’s security. Trump’s decision to block the reported operation against Khamenei reflects an effort to prevent broader regional destabilisation.
Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told four European counterparts that Iran was serious about diplomacy but its current focus was on confronting aggression, Iranian state media reported. Israel has said its goal is to eliminate Tehran's ability to develop a nuclear weapon.
Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons and has pointed to its right to nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, including enrichment, as a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Sources told Reuters that Tehran had asked Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia to press Trump to use his influence on Netanyahu to push for an immediate ceasefire.
In return, Iran would show flexibility in nuclear negotiations, said the two Iranian and three regional sources.
Tehran says more than 224 Iranians have been killed since Friday (13 June), most of them civilians. Israel says 24 people have been killed, all of them civilians.
The U.S. is considering joining Israel’s military campaign against Iran, with President Donald Trump expected to make the final decision. CENTCOM supports involvement, but senior officials are divided on the move.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a stark warning of more strikes targeting the Iranian regime, a declaration that comes as Iran confirms the death of a prominent security and foreign policy adviser.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 14th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speak by phone Friday as tensions escalate between Iran and Israel, according to a White House official.
U.S. President Donald Trump is set to speak with Israeli PM Netanyahu as Tehran prepares a counter-proposal to Washington’s nuclear offer via Oman, amid rising tensions over Gaza aid and Iran’s enrichment program.
The International Ski Mountaineering Federation (ISMF) has confirmed that Azerbaijan will host the Ski Mountaineering World Championships in 2027, marking the first time the country will stage the prestigious event.
Thailand’s cabinet has approved a $1.2 billion plan to host a Formula 1 street race in Bangkok starting in 2028, aiming to boost tourism and put the capital on the global motorsport map with an annual event running through 2032.
A federal judge has ruled that the Trump-era termination of hundreds of diversity-focused scientific research grants was unlawful and discriminatory, ordering the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to reinstate the cancelled funding.
Chinese President Xi Jinping stated that China-Kyrgyzstan relations have reached their strongest point in history. He made the remarks during a meeting with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov on the sidelines of the 2nd China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Global oil demand will continue rising until around 2030, even as China’s consumption peaks in 2027, driven by low U.S. gasoline prices and slower EV adoption, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Tuesday.
Pakistan will begin its first freight train service to Russia from Lahore on June 22. The route is part of the INSTC and aims to connect Pakistan's rail network with Central Asia, establishing a new trade corridor via Iran, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan.
Peace is no longer a dream. It is a discussion. On the streets of Baku and Yerevan, it is also a question, of trust, of foreign interests, and of who truly wants it.
Israeli strikes have reportedly targeted areas near the residences of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to the New York Times, citing local witnesses.
Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) has cancelled certain flights scheduled for 13th and 14th June amid recent escalation of situation in the Middle East and the closure of airspace in several countries for security reasons.
The Israeli military has issued an evacuation advisory for Iranian civilians living near weapons production sites and associated infrastructure within Iran. The message was shared on the social media platform X in both Arabic and Farsi by an official military spokesperson.
Uzbekistan and China have reaffirmed their strategic partnership with fresh momentum, agreeing to fast-track major infrastructure and investment projects including the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has launched a global campaign to defend the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention following plans by several countries to withdraw from the landmark treaty, warning that civilian lives are at risk.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and US President Donald Trump met on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada to call for renewed negotiations over Iran and efforts to de-escalate the worsening Middle East crisis.
The Kremlin backed U.S. President Donald Trump's claim that Russia’s expulsion from the G8 in 2014 was a mistake but dismissed the relevance of the current G7, calling it “rather useless.”
Thailand’s cabinet has approved a $1.2 billion plan to host a Formula 1 street race in Bangkok starting in 2028, aiming to boost tourism and put the capital on the global motorsport map with an annual event running through 2032.
The International Ski Mountaineering Federation (ISMF) has confirmed that Azerbaijan will host the Ski Mountaineering World Championships in 2027, marking the first time the country will stage the prestigious event.
Thailand’s cabinet has approved a $1.2 billion plan to host a Formula 1 street race in Bangkok starting in 2028, aiming to boost tourism and put the capital on the global motorsport map with an annual event running through 2032.
A federal judge has ruled that the Trump-era termination of hundreds of diversity-focused scientific research grants was unlawful and discriminatory, ordering the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to reinstate the cancelled funding.
Chinese President Xi Jinping stated that China-Kyrgyzstan relations have reached their strongest point in history. He made the remarks during a meeting with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov on the sidelines of the 2nd China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Global oil demand will continue rising until around 2030, even as China’s consumption peaks in 2027, driven by low U.S. gasoline prices and slower EV adoption, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Tuesday.
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