Israel’s defence minister said on Wednesday that any successor to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would be considered a legitimate target if they continued policies hostile to Israel.
In a statement posted on social media, Defence Minister Israel Katz said any leader appointed by Iran’s ruling establishment to pursue what he described as efforts to destroy Israel and threaten the United States and regional countries “will be an unequivocal target for elimination”.
Katz said Israel would continue to act “with full force” alongside the United States to weaken Iran’s governing system and create conditions for change within the country.
His remarks came days after Khamenei was killed in a joint U.S.-Israeli military operation aimed at curbing what the two countries described as Iran’s military capabilities. The strikes followed heightened tensions over Tehran’s nuclear programme, which Israel says is geared towards developing a nuclear weapon. Iran denies the allegation, maintaining that its nuclear activities are for civilian purposes.
Iran has since carried out retaliatory strikes on Israeli territory, U.S. military installations in the region and targets in several Gulf states, further escalating hostilities.
Following Khamenei’s death, senior cleric Alireza Arafi was appointed as the jurist member of a temporary leadership council tasked with carrying out the supreme leader’s duties during the transition period.
Under Iran’s constitution, the interim body comprises President Masoud Pezeshkian, Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei and a cleric from the Guardian Council. The council will oversee state affairs until the Assembly of Experts selects a permanent successor.
Arafi serves as deputy chairman of the Assembly of Experts and is a member of the Guardian Council, the body responsible for vetting legislation and election candidates.