Netanyahu Claims Iran’s New Leader Can’t Show His Face in Public Following Tehran Statement
Netanyahu Claims Iran’s New Leader Can’t Show His Face in Public Following Tehran Statement
"I will not give life insurance policies to any Iranian leader. And I will not give precise information about what we are planning or will implement," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on March 12, when asked whether Tel Aviv had any plans to respond to Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, son of Ali Khamenei, was elected on March 8 as the next Supreme Leader to lead the country amid conflict with the US and Israel. He is Iran's third Supreme Leader since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Prime Minister Netanyahu declared that Israel killed Ali Khamenei in an airstrike on February 28 and now his successor "cannot appear in public."
Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared before the people since his election as Supreme Leader. During his swearing-in ceremony in Tehran, Iranian officials only displayed a portrait of him. The US and Israel had previously publicly threatened to assassinate whoever was elected Supreme Leader of Iran.
On March 12, Iran released Khamenei's first message, but it was in written form read on television. Mojtaba did not appear via video or audio.
In this message, Khamenei declared that Iran would continue its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz to increase pressure on its adversaries and to make the US and Israel pay for the damage they have caused.
Rumors about Mojtaba being injured in the US-Israel bombing campaign have been circulating for days. The New York Times, citing three unnamed Iranian officials, said that Mojtaba was "wounded, including a leg injury" on February 28th, the first day of the US-Israel operation. They said he was conscious and "sheltering in a heavily guarded location with limited communication."
Yousef Pezeshkian, Iranian government advisor and son of President Masoud Pezeshkian, said on March 11th that the Supreme Leader was "safe and well."
According to the Israeli Prime Minister, his military had "dealt a heavy blow" to Iran and its proxy forces, significantly weakening their capabilities. He declared Israel "committed to completing this task," adding that Tel Aviv had targeted Iranian nuclear scientists, as it had done last year.
Netanyahu said Israel is also considering launching a ground operation in southern Lebanon to attack the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group.
When asked whether Israel plans to take control of any territory in Lebanon, Netanyahu said he had urged the Lebanese government to keep its commitment to disarm Hezbollah.
"If they don't, we will have no choice but to resolve the issue ourselves. I won't specify whether it's a ground operation or some other measure, but I can assure you that Hezbollah will pay a very heavy price," Prime Minister Netanyahu emphasized.
The Middle East has been engulfed in conflict since the US and Israel launched airstrikes against Iran on February 28. Iran retaliated by launching missiles and drones at Israel and US bases in Arab countries in the region.
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Iran also attacked key infrastructure in Gulf countries, including oil and gas facilities, as well as ships attempting to pass through or anchor in the Strait of Hormuz. The fighting has killed around 2,000 people, mostly in Iran, and has affected many countries in the region as well as the global economy.
