Israel Defense Minister Says Any Successor to Iran’s Khamenei ‘Target for Assassination’

A sign in tribute to Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is displayed on a street, after he was killed in Israeli and US strikes on Saturday, in Tehran, Iran, March 4, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters)
A sign in tribute to Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is displayed on a street, after he was killed in Israeli and US strikes on Saturday, in Tehran, Iran, March 4, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters)
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Israel Defense Minister Says Any Successor to Iran’s Khamenei ‘Target for Assassination’

A sign in tribute to Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is displayed on a street, after he was killed in Israeli and US strikes on Saturday, in Tehran, Iran, March 4, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters)
A sign in tribute to Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is displayed on a street, after he was killed in Israeli and US strikes on Saturday, in Tehran, Iran, March 4, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters)

Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened on Wednesday to assassinate any Iranian leader picked to succeed supreme leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US-Israeli strikes on Tehran.

"Any leader selected by the Iranian terror regime to continue leading the plan for Israel's destruction, threatening the United States, the free world and countries in the region, and suppressing the Iranian people, will be a certain target for assassination, no matter his name or where he hides," Katz said in a post on X.

Israel killed the 86-year-old Khamenei in a strike Saturday that started the war.

Israel targeted a building Tuesday associated with Iran’s Assembly of Experts, which will select the new supreme leader.