Netanyahu claims signs point to Iranian leader, Khamenei’s death

ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asserted that emerging intelligence suggests Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, may have been killed amid Israel’s ongoing military assault on Iranian territory.

In a nationally televised broadcast on Saturday evening, Mr Netanyahu said preliminary assessments and battlefield developments indicate that Khamenei is “no longer with us.” He disclosed that Israeli airstrikes had flattened the supreme leader’s residential and administrative compound, describing the operation as part of a broader effort to dismantle Iran’s military and nuclear command structure.

The Israeli leader maintained that the campaign inside Iran would not be halted prematurely. According to him, military operations will persist “for as long as required” to neutralise what he characterised as an existential threat to Israel and global security. He framed the offensive as a decisive step toward achieving ‘true peace’ in the region.

Mr rNetanyahu strongly criticised the Iranian government, branding it a dangerous regime that must not be allowed to acquire or retain nuclear capabilities. He argued that permitting such weapons in Tehran’s hands would endanger not only Israel but the wider international community.

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While delivering his address, Netanyahu shifted his tone to directly appeal to Iranian citizens. He praised what he described as the courage of the Iranian people and suggested that Israel’s actions were indirectly aiding them in breaking free from decades of authoritarian rule.

“There are clear signs that this tyrant is no longer alive,” he reiterated, underscoring his claim about Khamenei’s fate. However, he provided no detailed evidence beyond references to the destruction of key sites and leadership targets.

The statement sharply contradicts earlier assurances from Iran’s foreign ministry, which insisted that both the supreme leader and the country’s president remain “safe and sound,” dismissing speculation about any leadership casualties.

Netanyahu further urged Iranians to seize what he called a historic opportunity. He described the current turbulence as a “once-in-a-generation chance” for citizens to challenge and ultimately overthrow the ruling establishment.

Encouraging mass mobilisation, he called on the population to flood the streets in large numbers and complete what he framed as an unfinished struggle against tyranny. He emphasised unity and collective action, saying the moment demands boldness rather than hesitation.

“This is the time to come together for a defining mission,” Netanyahu declared, urging Iranians not to remain passive observers but active participants in shaping their country’s future.

Beyond leadership targets, the prime minister also disclosed that Israeli forces had struck senior figures linked to Iran’s nuclear programme, along with other top-ranking officials. He suggested that these operations have significantly disrupted Iran’s strategic infrastructure, though independent verification of the extent of the damage remains limited.