Israel launches massive airstrikes on Tehran after Khamenei speech aired

Financial News reported, citing the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on the 12th (local time), that Israel launched concentrated airstrikes on the Iranian capital Tehran just hours after a statement by Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was read out on state television. It was the first statement he has issued since taking power.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on social media that they had begun large-scale airstrikes on Tehran. They said that Iranian government infrastructure around the capital was being targeted.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed that joint military operations by Israel and the United States over the past two weeks had dealt a blow to Iran’s elite forces, leaving them weaker than before.
According to Israeli media including The Jerusalem Post, Netanyahu said at his first press conference since the war began that he speaks with U.S. President Donald Trump almost every day and that they are "engaged in open dialogue."
He added, "Our goal is to prevent Iran from moving its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile projects underground."
Netanyahu also stated that Israel would continue to strike Hezbollah, the Iran-backed armed group in Lebanon. He said he had conveyed to the Lebanese government that it was "playing with fire."
Speaking about Iran’s new supreme leader Khamenei and Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem, he remarked, "If it were up to me, I would not provide any leader of a terrorist organization with life insurance." However, he did not disclose whether Israel had any specific plans targeting them.
At the same press conference, he declined to answer whether Israel was arming Iranian anti-government protesters. He did say, however, "We are creating the conditions for regime change. It depends on whether the Iranian people take to the streets."

jjyoon@fnnews.com Reporter Yoon Jae-joon Reporter