Tel Aviv, June 17 (V7N) - In a provocative and controversial statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has suggested that the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would not escalate the ongoing hostilities between the two nations but would instead "bring the conflict to an end."

Netanyahu made the remarks during an exclusive interview with ABC News, where he was asked directly about speculation surrounding a possible Israeli plan to target Iran's highest religious and political authority.

"It Would End the Conflict"

“If such an operation were to happen, it would not intensify the war,” Netanyahu told ABC. “It would end it.”

While he stopped short of confirming any concrete plan or operational intent, the Israeli prime minister’s language signaled a dramatic shift in rhetorical posture — moving from deterrence to the possibility of targeted regime decapitation.

Netanyahu's comments come amid heightened tensions following renewed Israeli airstrikes on Iranian targets and growing speculation about deeper military engagement between the two rivals.

Reactions and Geopolitical Implications

The remarks have already triggered strong reactions across the Middle East. Iranian officials have yet to formally respond, but state media condemned the comments as "state-sponsored incitement to terrorism."

International observers warn that such rhetoric could destabilize an already fragile regional situation, especially as Israel and Iran remain locked in a cycle of retaliatory strikes, cyberattacks, and proxy engagements through regional militias.

Security analysts also note that targeting a head of state or supreme leader — particularly someone with deep religious authority — could draw widespread condemnation and possibly trigger wider conflict beyond the Middle East.

Background: Israel-Iran Conflict at Boiling Point

The Israel-Iran rivalry has intensified in recent months, particularly following Iran's open support for militant groups in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, and Israel’s increasingly frequent operations inside Iranian territory, including alleged sabotage of nuclear facilities.

Earlier this year, Iran vowed a “crushing response” to any further Israeli incursions. The possibility of direct conflict — once unthinkable — is now being openly discussed in diplomatic and defense circles.

No Comment from Israeli Defense Forces

As of this writing, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have not commented on Netanyahu's statement. The Prime Minister’s Office also declined to elaborate on whether his words reflect a shift in formal Israeli military doctrine or remain hypothetical.

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