Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held his first press conference on the 12th after launching attacks on Iran, where he indicated that Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, might be a target. When asked about potential actions against Khamenei, Netanyahu remarked that he would not offer life insurance to leaders of terrorist organizations, thereby hinting that Khamenei could indeed be targeted in the ongoing conflict. This marks a significant declaration amidst escalating tensions between Israel and Iran.

Prior to Netanyahu's comments, Khamenei had issued his first statement as supreme leader, emphasizing Iran's determination to continue its defensive stance against the United States and Israel, describing it as a response to the will of the people. Khamenei's assertive rhetoric represents a hardline position against Israel, and he vowed that the resistance against what he termed as aggression would continue unabated. This clash of narratives suggests an intensifying struggle for influence and control within the region.

Netanyahu, during the press conference, characterized Khamenei as a 'puppet' of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, further underscoring his administration's perception of the Iranian leadership as proxy operatives acting against Israel's interests. He took the opportunity to highlight the outcomes of the recent attacks, claiming that Iran is 'no longer the Iran of before' due to the damages incurred, amplifying the stakes for both countries in this ongoing conflict.