Israel has warned it will target whoever becomes Iran’s next supreme leader, escalating rhetoric as Tehran prepares to appoint a successor following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in recent strikes.
Israeli officials said any leader chosen to continue Iran’s policies toward Israel would be considered a legitimate military target.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that any successor “will be a target for elimination,” according to statements reported by international media.
The Israeli military also warned it would pursue individuals involved in selecting the new leader, including members of Iran’s Assembly of Experts, the clerical body responsible for appointing the country’s supreme leader.
Iran’s leadership council is expected to move forward with the succession process amid ongoing strikes and regional tensions. Analysts say the threat highlights the deepening conflict between Israel and Iran as fighting spreads across the Middle East.
