Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to rule out an assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei as the clash between the two nations continues to escalate. Israel’s ruler has claimed that taking out Khamenei would end the war.

In an interview with ABC News on Monday, Netanyahu was asked to comment on recent media reports claiming that United States President Donald Trump rejected an Israeli plan to assassinate the Iranian leader out of concern over further escalation. “It’s not going to escalate the conflict, it’s going to end the conflict,” the Israeli prime minister replied.

Israel and Iran have been exchanging strikes since West Jerusalem bombed Iranian nuclear and military facilities last Friday in what it described as an effort to preempt Tehran’s acquisition of nuclear weapons.

Israel Attacks Iran: Trump Vows To Defend Israel

Netanyahu has claimed that the Israeli attack on Iran was a “service” to protect both the U.S. and the entire world from Iran. “Today, it’s Tel Aviv. Tomorrow, it’s New York. Look, I understand ‘America First’. I don’t understand ‘America Dead’,” he said, adding that West Jerusalem would need Washington’s help to eliminate Tehran’s nuclear program totally, according to a report by RT. 

Israel has also targeted civilian areas, causing casualties, as well as the state broadcaster on Monday. The US, which had been engaged in Oman-mediated nuclear talks with Iran prior to the attack, has endorsed the Israeli operation.

Iran has already said that it is preparing for this to be a long war.

Iran Preparing For A Long WAR

“The ‘forever war’ is what Iran wants, and they’re bringing us to the brink of nuclear war. In fact, what Israel is doing is preventing this, bringing an end to this aggression,” Netanyahu claimed. When asked whether Israel would actually go through with an attempted assassination of Khamenei, Netanyahu replied, “Look, we’re doing what we need to do. I’m not going to get into the details, but we’ve targeted their top nuclear scientists.”

Israel has asked the U.S. to help initiate and be involved in attacking Iran; however, so far, it appears that the U.S. ruling class has declined the offer.

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