War Fears Escalate; Netanyahu’s Renewed Threat and Mojtaba Khamenei’s Retaliation
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s indirect threat that there is no guarantee for the life of Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is currently a major topic of international discussion. Netanyahu issued this warning while justifying the joint airstrikes conducted by the US and Israel against Iran over the past two weeks.
It was during a press conference held on March 12 that Netanyahu made this targeted threat against Mojtaba. He bluntly stated, “No one takes out a life insurance policy for the leaders of terrorist organisations.” He made it clear that they had weakened Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and Basij forces, and that their ultimate goal is to completely destroy Iran’s nuclear and missile centres. Describing Mojtaba as a mere “puppet” of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Netanyahu mocked the new leader, saying he is not even able to show his face in front of his own people.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a veiled threat to kill Iran’s new supreme leader even as he acknowledged that Israel’s joint air war with the US may not lead to a collapse of Tehran’s clerical government https://t.co/tgr9EtYLYO pic.twitter.com/S9cPa3vpUn
— Reuters (@Reuters) March 13, 2026
At the same time, Netanyahu stated that he could not guarantee the collapse of the current regime in Iran, noting that this is a matter for the Iranian people to decide. However, Israel argues that their external military actions will create a favourable environment for the Iranian people to topple the government.
Mojtaba Khamenei’s Retaliation However, the threats made in Mojtaba Khamenei’s initial statement appear to be materialising in the Gulf region. Recently, three ships were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, the primary route for the world’s oil supply.
The Attack on Tel Aviv: According to the latest reports, Iran fired missiles, including cluster bombs, at Tel Aviv in Israel. This attack bypassed Israel’s defence systems, including the Iron Dome. Six people were injured in the incident.
Warning to Expatriates: Iran has issued a warning that Iranian expatriates who support the US or Israel will face severe penalties, including the death penalty, and their assets will be confiscated.
With Iran preparing to attack US bases in the Gulf countries and the war impacting the industry, oil prices in the global market have surged past $100 a barrel. To counter this emergency situation, 32 countries, including the US, have made a historic decision to collectively release their strategic oil reserves all at once.
