Netanyahu stated that eliminating Khamenei could end the conflict.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated in an interview with ABC News on Monday that he doesn't rule out ordering the assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, as part of the ongoing Israeli military campaign against Iran.

He asserted that this action would not provoke an escalation of the conflict, but would end it. "We're doing what we must do," he noted, emphasizing that they have already eliminated senior Iranian nuclear scientists, whom he compared to "Hitler's nuclear team."

Netanyahu's statements come in the context of an increasingly intense conflict between Iran and Israel, triggered by an efficient Israeli offensive launched the previous week, which included attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities and the assassination of senior military commanders.

Iran replied with a missile and drone offensive that struck Israeli cities such as Tel Aviv and Haifa, causing several fatalities and injuring hundreds of civilians, as well as damaging a United States embassy compound.

Netanyahu accused Iran of manipulating nuclear negotiations with the West, stating that the Islamic Republic uses the talks as a tactic to buy time and continue developing its nuclear program and ballistic missile arsenal. "They want to keep creating the two existential threats against Israel while they talk. That's not going to happen," he warned.

Regarding diplomatic efforts to stop the conflict, Netanyahu was skeptical of Iran's alleged messages to the United States expressing its willingness to end the attacks. According to him, Tehran only seeks to deceive Washington to avoid retaliation while advancing its military strategy.

Netanyahu also vigorously defended the Israeli offensive, describing it as a necessary preemptive action to prevent a "perpetual war" in the region. He emphasized that the Iranian regime has sown terror throughout the Middle East for decades, including attacks such as the bombing of Aramco facilities in Saudi Arabia and the funding of terrorist groups.

In response to isolationist sectors within the United States Republican Party, Netanyahu stressed that the Iranian threat is not exclusive to Israel. "They shout 'death to Israel and death to America.' We're simply in their way. This could reach the United States soon," he warned. He stated that ignoring this threat would be a form of "total blindness."

Over the weekend, reports emerged that United States President Donald Trump had vetoed an Israeli plan to assassinate Khamenei. Although Netanyahu avoided confirming or denying this information, he reiterated that Israel will take the necessary measures to protect itself, with or without direct support from Washington.

So far, the United States has refused to participate actively in the attacks against Iran, but its military has collaborated in intercepting Iranian missiles aimed at Israel.

Meanwhile, international tension is rising, with the conflict as the main topic at the G7 summit and concern that this confrontation could turn into a large-scale regional war.

Netanyahu concluded his message by insisting that Israel will not allow Iran to continue its nuclear and military advance under the guise of negotiations. In his view, the only way to guarantee peace is to dismantle the regime that has sown chaos in the region for more than half a century.