Israel’s defense minister warned Wednesday that whoever is chosen to replace slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will be considered “a target for elimination” if they continue policies threatening Israel, the United States and regional allies.
The statement comes as Iran’s Assembly of Experts moves to select a successor following Khamenei’s death in an Israeli strike at the outset of the war. Israeli forces have already targeted locations tied to Iran’s clerical leadership structure, signaling the campaign is aimed not only at degrading military capabilities but also at preventing the reconstitution of regime leadership.
The warning marks a dramatic escalation in rhetoric, underscoring Israel’s position that any future Iranian leader who maintains Tehran’s hostile posture could face direct military action. Iranian officials have not publicly responded to the threat.