Iran’s intelligence chief, Esmail Khatib, has accused the United States and Israel of planning an assassination attempt on Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to reports by ISNA news agency. The claims are part of Iran’s broader narrative of being targeted by foreign adversaries to destabilize the country.
This allegation comes shortly after a 12-day war between Israel and Iran in June, during which Israeli strikes killed several Iranian commanders and nuclear scientists. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that these actions were taken to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, a move backed by the United States. Iran, which denies seeking nuclear capabilities, has criticized these strikes as unprovoked. Khatib’s claims also point to a larger issue of infiltration and espionage, citing the recent arrest of an Israeli Air Force officer accused of spying for Iran. This case highlights the ongoing intelligence rivalry between the two nations.
Earlier this year, Netanyahu dismissed reports that US President Donald Trump had vetoed an Israeli plan to kill Khamenei during the war, and mentioned that such a strike would ‘end the conflict.’ Trump had claimed that Khamenei was an ‘easy target’ and that Washington would not ‘take him out, at least not for now.’ He later stated that he had spared Khamenei from ‘A VERY UGLY AND IGNOMINIOUS DEATH’ on Truth Social. As the supreme leader of Iran since 1989, Khamenei holds the final authority over all state affairs, making him a critical figure in Iran’s political and military landscape.