TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Iran and Israel are currently observing a ceasefire after 12 days of war. Both sides are using media to make claims and threats.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz conducted an interview with Channel 13 Israel on Wednesday, June 25. On the same day, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made a video statement which was broadcast on television.
Katz reiterated his statement about the wish to eliminate Khamenei. He said the U.S. has greenlit Israel to launch another attack on Tehran if it were deemed to be making "progress" with its nuclear program.
Israel Katz said his government wanted to eliminate Khamenei during the 12 days of war. He also denied previous media reports that Tel Aviv sought Washington's permission for the action. “We wanted to eliminate Khamenei, but there was no operational opportunity,” said Katz in the interview, as quoted by Al Jazeera.
Katz claimed that Khamenei knew about the assassination attempt and was hiding underground "to very great depths."
Killing Khamenei would greatly escalate the conflict. In addition to being the de facto head of state in Iran, the Supreme Leader is the top spiritual authority for millions of Shia Muslims worldwide.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump have hinted at various times that the war could spark a regime change, and Trump posted on social media last Sunday that the conflict could "MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN."
Katz's comments come amid conflicting reports about the level of damage caused to Iran's nuclear capabilities, especially due to the U.S. bombings at locations in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Khamenei stated on Thursday that the U.S. had "exaggerated" the impact of the attacks.
Khamenei's Comments
On the same day, a video statement from Khamenei. According to Al Jazeera, he made his first public appearance since June 19.
The Supreme Leader of Iran stated that Iran will "never surrender" to the United States. The 86-year-old man also claimed victory after 12 days of war. “The US President [Donald] Trump unveiled the truth and made it clear that Americans won’t be satisfied with anything less than surrender of Iran … such an event will never happen,” Khamenei said.
“The Islamic republic won, and in retaliation dealt a severe slap to the face of America,” he said, referring to Iran's missile attacks targeting a U.S. airbase in Qatar, which did not result in any casualties. Khamenei continued that the attack on Qatar was a warning.
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