Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted in an interview with ABC News on Monday that targeting Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, could effectively conclude the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran that intensified late last week.
Responding to ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl’s inquiry regarding reports that President Donald Trump rejected an Israeli proposal to assassinate Khamenei out of concern for escalating tensions, Netanyahu argued, “It’s not going to escalate the conflict, it’s going to end the conflict.”
He elaborated, “We’ve had half a century of conflict spread by this regime that terrorizes everyone in the Middle East; has bombed the Aramco oil fields in Saudi Arabia; is spreading terrorism and subversion and sabotage everywhere. The ‘forever war’ is what Iran wants, and they’re bringing us to the brink of nuclear war. In fact, what Israel is doing is preventing this, bringing an end to this aggression, and we can only do so by standing up to the forces of evil.”
Netanyahu emphasized Israel’s commitment to defending itself, stating, “We’re doing what we need to do,” while discussing previous actions that have targeted Iranian nuclear scientists, referring to them as “basically Hitler’s nuclear team.”
He highlighted the necessity for American support in Israel’s efforts to dismantle Iran’s nuclear capabilities, insisting, “Today, it’s Tel Aviv. Tomorrow, it’s New York. Look, I understand ‘America First.’ I don’t understand ‘America Dead.’ That’s what these people want. They chant ‘Death to America.’ So we’re doing something that is in the service of mankind, of humanity, and it’s 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.”
When addressing allegations from a Wall Street Journal report suggesting Iran was seeking to resume negotiations regarding its nuclear program, Netanyahu dismissed the notion, claiming, “I’m not surprised. I mean, they want to continue to have these fake talks in which they lie, they cheat, they string the U.S. along. And, you know, we have very solid Intel on that.”
He further warned that Iran aims to enhance its nuclear capabilities while pretending to engage in dialogue, asserting, “They don’t want a seat at the table — they want to blow up the table. Specifically, they want to blow up Israel and purchase time.”
Regarding opposition from some Republicans, such as commentator Tucker Carlson, who argued against America’s military support for Israel, Netanyahu reiterated the global threat posed by Iran, stating, “We’re not just fighting our enemy. We’re fighting your enemy. For God’s sake, they chant, ‘death to Israel, death to America.’ We’re simply on their way. And this could reach America soon.”
In a travel advisory issued Monday, the State Department classified all of Israel and the West Bank at its highest warning level, “Level 4: Do Not Travel.”
When questioned about the possibility of halting military operations at Trump’s request to restart diplomacy, Netanyahu praised Trump’s leadership and reaffirmed that Iran must not develop nuclear weapons. He noted, “He said Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, and in order for it not to have a nuclear weapon, it cannot have the capacity to enrich uranium, which is the prerequisite for nuclear weapons.”
Later, he claimed Iran was not negotiating in good faith, stating, “They want to keep building their nuclear weapons and building their mass ballistic missile arsenal, which they’re firing at our people.”
Reflecting on a potential discrepancy between Netanyahu’s and Trump’s positions, Karl remarked on their differing views regarding the targeting of Khamenei. Netanyahu advised against jumping to conclusions.
As talks between the U.S. and Iran about Tehran’s nuclear program were scheduled to restart on Sunday in Oman, tensions escalated further, leading to the suspension of those discussions. As of early Monday, Iranian officials reported 224 deaths related to the conflict, while Israel’s latest figures included 24 fatalities and 592 injuries.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned Israel’s military actions in a meeting with ambassadors, stating such aggression could not occur “without the agreement and support of the United States” and urged the international community to hold Israel accountable for its actions against Iran’s nuclear facilities. ABC News’ Benjamin Siegel and Bill Hutchinson contributed to this report.