'He Knew We’d Kill Him': Israel Says Hiding Deep Underground Saved Iran's Khamenei's Life

Last Updated:June 26, 2025, 23:20 IST

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said that if it would have possible for Israel it would have killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Israel Katz says Khamenei went into hiding during the war, making a strike on him “not realistic”. (IMAGE: NEWS18)

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Thursday said that his country’s forces would have killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei if it would have been possible during the recent 12-day war fought between both nations.

“I estimate that if Khamenei had been in our sights, we would have taken him out," Katz said in an interview with Israel’s Kan public television.

“But Khamenei understood this, went underground to very great depths, and broke off contacts with the commanders who replaced those commanders who were eliminated, so it wasn’t realistic in the end," Katz was quoted as saying.

Israel killed several top Iranian commanders and nuclear scientists on June 13 at the start of the war.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump had both suggested at various times during the air war that Khamenei’s life could be in danger as regime change could be a result of the war that ended with a US-brokered ceasefire on Tuesday.

Khamenei, however, appeared defiant at his first televised speech post ceasefire. He said that the Iran gave a “severe slap" to the US who fought on behalf of Israel.

He also said that if the US had not stepped in then the entire nation would have been obliterated due to Iran’s attacks. He also dismissed US claims that it has destroyed its ability to make nuclear bombs.

Shankhyaneel Sarkar

Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev...Read More

Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev...

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Location :

Jerusalem, Israel

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News world 'He Knew We’d Kill Him': Israel Says Hiding Deep Underground Saved Iran's Khamenei's Life