Israeli Official Warns Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei “Not Off Limits” Amid Nuclear Strikes

An Israeli official has stated that targeting Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei remains a possible option, telling The Wall Street Journal that Khamenei is “not off limits.” This declaration comes as Israel intensifies attacks on Iranian nuclear and military sites.

Echoing this stance, Channel 12’s Amit Segal reported that an Israeli political source informed him Israel “is not ruling out the possibility of eliminating Ali Khamenei,” though such action would depend on various factors.

The official speaking to The Wall Street Journal further outlined Israel’s core demand: the conflict would only conclude if Iran voluntarily dismantles its nuclear program, or if Israeli actions render Tehran incapable of rebuilding it. Israel has already taken responsibility for assassinating senior Iranian generals and nine scientists crucial to Iran’s nuclear efforts.

These statements signal a broader Israeli strategy aiming beyond disabling nuclear assets to weakening the regime’s political and military foundations. While some analysts question Israel’s capacity to fully destroy Iran’s deeply buried nuclear infrastructure, an Israeli official asserted recent strikes have inflicted severe damage. This includes the Natanz enrichment site, reportedly suffering a major structural collapse impacting thousands of advanced centrifuges.

Israel maintains its objectives are clear: continue the campaign until Iran abandons its nuclear ambitions or Israel ensures they cannot be revived. This contrasts with the US position; a senior White House official reiterated Washington’s preference for diplomatic solutions regarding Iran’s nuclear program, while acknowledging the ongoing military actions are now irreversible.

Diplomatic efforts faced a setback as Oman announced the postponement of US-Iran talks originally scheduled for Sunday.

In a significant development, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated on Sunday (Jun 15) they had “completed an extensive series of strikes on targets in Tehran related to the Iranian regime’s nuclear weapons project.” According to an IDF statement on X, targets included the Iranian Ministry of Defense headquarters, the headquarters of the SPND nuclear project, and other locations advancing Iran’s nuclear weapons efforts and hiding its nuclear archive.