Israel draws a new red line — at the heart of the Iranian regime

In a dramatic and unmistakable shift, Israeli leadership has drawn a new red line — not around nuclear sites or proxy militias, but around the very heart of the Iranian regime. 

Defense Minister Israel Katz declared this week that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is “a modern Hitler,” and asserted that “a dictator like him cannot continue to live.” 

He explicitly stated that neutralizing Khamenei is now considered a legitimate strategic goal. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reinforced the message, warning that “no one enjoys immunity,” and linking the dismantling of the Iranian regime to the return of Israeli hostages and the defeat of Hamas.

This moment marks a significant evolution in Israel’s strategic posture. For years, our security establishment has focused on degrading Iran’s regional proxies—Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, and Shia militias in Syria and Iraq. 

But this week’s statements send a clear message: the existential threat is not just at our borders—it sits in Tehran.

This is not a declaration made lightly. Iran has armed, financed, and ideologically fueled the terror war against Israel for decades. 

Khamenei’s regime has turned the destruction of Israel into a central pillar of its identity. It has enabled the October 7 massacre, prolonged the suffering in Gaza, and is accelerating its march toward nuclear capability. The idea that this can continue indefinitely without consequence is no longer tenable.

Of course, targeting a head of state, even rhetorically, breaks long-established taboos in the international arena. It carries risks. But Israel’s leadership seems to be calculating that allowing this regime to remain untouched is far riskier—not only for Israel, but for the entire region.

This is not about vengeance. It is about vision. 

A Middle East free from the destabilizing grip of the Iranian theocracy is a region where peace, economic development, and coexistence become possible. Dismantling this regime is not a fantasy—it is a necessary condition for progress.

Israel is often asked what the endgame looks like. 

Today, the answer is clearer than ever: peace will not be possible until the source of hatred is confronted. And that source, in Israel’s view, wears a black turban and holds the title of Supreme Leader.