Netanyahu says killing Iran's Khamenei would end conflict

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday did not rule out plans to assassinate Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying it would "end the conflict" between the two arch-foes.

In a 20-minute interview with US network ABC News, the Israeli leader insisted his country's deadly aggression to "defang" Iran was justified, and equated Khamenei to a "modern Hitler."

But when asked about reports that US President Donald Trump vetoed an Israeli plan to kill the supreme leader out of concern it would escalate the Iran-Israel showdown, Netanyahu was dismissive.

"It's not going to escalate the conflict, it's going to end the conflict," he said. "The 'forever war' is what Iran wants, and they're bringing us to the brink of nuclear war," Netanyahu said.

"In fact, what Israel is doing is preventing this, bringing an end to this aggression, and we can only do so by standing up to the forces of evil," he added.

Netanyahu did not reveal whether or not Israel was targeting the ayatollah, saying only: "We're doing what we need to do."

As Israel unleashes its punishing strikes across Iran and the Islamic republic punches back with volleys of missiles, Netanyahu has maintained an aggressive posture.

In a bid to communicate with citizens of his country's chief ally, the prime minister has sat for lengthy American media interviews twice in as many days, framing Israel's conflict with Iran as "a battle of civilization against barbarism."

Americans, he stressed Monday, should be deeply concerned both about Tehran's efforts to acquire a nuclear weapon and its increasingly muscular ballistic missile capability. "Today it's Tel Aviv, tomorrow it's New York," Netanyahu told ABC correspondent Jon Karl.

Netanyahu unleashed fierce criticism of Khamenei, blasting his "anti-Semitic, mad fanaticism" and his backing of proxy attacks meant to "snuff out the life" of Israel.

"He's like a modern Hitler. He just will not stop, but we're going to make sure that he doesn't have the means to carry out his threats," he said.

In defending Israel's sweeping attacks, Netanyahu said setting back Iran's nuclear program is "preventing the most horrific war imaginable and... bringing peace to the Middle East." "That will be possible if Iran is defanged," he added.

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Separately, in a press conference on Monday, Netanyahu said on Monday that Israel was “changing the face of the Middle East” with its military campaign against Iran which could lead to “radical changes” in the country.

“We are changing the face of the Middle East and that can lead to radical changes inside Iran itself,” he outlined Israel’s strikes against Iranian nuclear and military targets. Iran has launched several waves of missiles in retaliation at Israel, sparking fears of a wider regional conflict.

“We have eliminated Iran’s security leadership, including three chiefs of staff, the commander of their air force, two intelligence chiefs,” Netanyahu said, adding, “We are eliminating them, one after the other.”

He said that Israel was “pursuing three main objectives: the elimination of the nuclear programme, the elimination of ballistic missile production capability, and the elimination of the axis of terrorism”, referring to groups in the Middle East.

“We will do what is necessary to achieve these goals, and we are well coordinated with the United States,” he added.

Netanyahu asserted that Iranians perception of their government had changed. “They understand that the regime is much weaker than they thought – they realise it, and that could lead to results,” he said.

Israel’s strikes have so far killed at least 224 people, including top military commanders, nuclear scientists and civilians, according to Iranian authorities.

The Israeli prime minister’s office says 24 people have been killed in Iranian attacks since Friday.