Amid escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, speculation has been swirling around whether Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei could be in Israel’s crosshairs. But in a recent CNN interview, Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar made it clear: Israel has no plans to carry out regime change or assassinate Khamenei.

"Regime Change Not Our Objective" — Israel’s Message to the World

In the interview, Saar firmly denied that Israel was aiming to dismantle the Iranian regime.

“No, eliminating Khamenei is not on our agenda,” Saar stated.
“That’s for the Iranian people to decide. Israel sees the Iranian regime as the enemy—not the Iranian people.”

Saar added that prior to the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Israel and Iran shared strong diplomatic ties, which were severed only when what he called a “barbaric regime” took control in Tehran.

Khamenei Assassination Plot Claims Stir Controversy

Recent international media reports suggested that Israel had seriously considered a plan to assassinate Khamenei, but former U.S. President Donald Trump allegedly blocked the move. According to a Reuters report, senior Washington officials revealed that unless Iran killed an American citizen, the U.S. would not authorize an attack on Iran’s top leadership.

While Israel’s Channel 12 denied these reports, it added a sharp remark:

“No political leader is untouchable for us.”

Trump’s alleged veto has not been independently confirmed, but it adds intrigue to an already volatile situation.

Israel’s Message to Iran: Don’t Underestimate Our Resolve

Gideon Saar also posted a clip from his CNN interview on X (formerly Twitter), reinforcing Israel’s core security philosophy:

“We’ve learned from history—when someone says they want to eliminate the Jewish people, take them seriously and act to stop them.”

This was a clear reference to Iran’s repeated slogans: “Death to America, Death to Israel,” which Saar called proof of the regime’s dangerous intent.

The Bigger Picture: Military Strikes, Not Political Overthrow

• Israel has reportedly eliminated at least 30 Iranian military officers in recent operations.

• However, targeting the Iranian leadership directly is not on the table—at least, not officially.

• The conflict remains focused on military containment, not political decapitation.