Israel’s Sinister Game Plan Unveiled: Katz Signals a New Target with Iran’s New Supreme Leader’s Demise

Dr. Pamelia Riviere

The conflict in the Middle East escalates as Israel's assassination threat against Mojtaba Khamenei raises eyebrows and sparks discussions about a potential regime change plan.  In the complex tapestry of Middle Eastern politics, the recent attempts to instigate regime change in Iran have not only faltered but have also set the stage for a series of retaliatory tactics. Despite the setbacks, Israel seems undeterred, continuing to map out a strategy that involves targeted assassinations as a means to exert influence and destabilize their adversaries. 

As the situation unfolds, the question remains: what are the broader implications of these tactics for the region and beyond?  Prominent journalists and political scientists delve into this intricate narrative of power, conflict, plotting and intrigue.

Can Chinese technology play a role in addressing concerns related to Israel's assassination plans and actions? What might the future hold for the new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei?

Unveiling Israel's bold move: the assassination threat to Mojtaba Khamenei and its implications for regime change

What does this bold move signal for the region’s future? 

The unfolding events may reshape alliances and redefine power dynamics, leaving many questioning the long-term consequences of such actions. The Middle East delves deeper into this provocative scenario, as Israel and Iran have escalated dramatically following Israel's declaration that it intends to eliminate the current Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei. In response, Iran has officially lodged a complaint with the United Nations, condemning Israel’s threatening remarks as an act of “state terrorism,” according to reports from Al Jazeera. 

According to a CNN report, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi issued a stark warning on Wednesday, asserting that Tehran would respond swiftly and decisively to any threat to its leadership. This statement came after Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz publicly declared that Khamenei was “marked for death.” 

The Express Tribune stated that during a memorial ceremony commemorating the victims of the 2006 Lebanon war, Katz elaborated on Israel's military posture, citing past preemptive strikes against Iranian targets. He stated, “We have conducted proactive, preemptive strikes in Iran on two occasions, and if the situation necessitates, we will carry out a third strike.” He emphasized Israel’s intent to maintain a continuous military presence in strategic areas, which he referred to as “security zones,” within Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza, aimed at safeguarding Israeli communities from potential threats.

The fourth power: Failed attempt to change the regime

Despite their efforts, both Netanyahu and Trump fell short in their attempts to alter the regime in Iran, a nation considered the fourth most powerful on the global stage at this moment. Their ambitions included a mix of overt and covert operations involving the CIA and Mossad—strategies that ultimately led to surprising outcomes.

Israel initially aimed to influence regime change in Iran with the help of the US, viewing it as a strategic move in the context of power dynamics among nations. However, these efforts to destabilize Iran and promote fragmentation, often referred to as "Balkanization," have not succeeded.

 The notion of regime change involves complex discussions, particularly when powerful nations, known as hegemonies, intervene in the governance of other countries. In the current global landscape, Iran, a heavily sanctioned country for nearly five decades, is recognized as a significant player and is ranked as a fourth superpower alongside the United States, Russia, and China, based on its air warfare technology demonstrated in recent wars with the US and Israel. 

In contrast, Israel is a small nation with nuclear capabilities and advanced military technology and intelligence, yet it relies heavily on the United States for financial aid, intelligence, ammunition and military support, underscoring its dependence in the geopolitical arena. 

This framework highlights the complexities surrounding any potential shifts in leadership or power structures within these major players on the world stage.

Was Trump provoked by Netanyahu and by Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman?

According to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace report, Netanyahu has been a long-time advocate for regime change in Iran, actively seeking support from U.S. presidents and Congress for four decades. While he has been particularly aligned with Donald Trump, other foreign leaders, like Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, have also pushed for action against Iran, albeit more quietly. Despite the support from regional leaders, it was Trump who ultimately led the U.S. involvement in this effort.

During his presidency, Donald Trump wielded executive power in ways unprecedented in modern history, creating a landscape unlike anything the world had seen before. For instance, when George W. Bush initiated military action in Iraq and Afghanistan, despite the deep flaws in that decision, there was a semblance of due process as he sought approval from Congress—the branch of government designated by the Constitution with the authority to declare war.

 In stark contrast, Trump often bypassed Congress entirely. His military decisions, such as intervening in Venezuela with the ambition of ousting its sovereign leader, were executed with little to no dialogue with lawmakers. In a dramatic and seemingly impulsive move, regime change was attempted while the Venezuelan leader was still in his bedroom at night. 

Additionally, Trump's approach to international trade was marked by the initiation of a broad trade war, carried out under his presidential authority. Unfortunately, this strategy failed to achieve its intended outcomes, and it lacked the crucial discussions with Congress that typically precede such significant economic maneuvers. This unilateral exercise of power not only raised questions about the limits of presidential authority but also alienated key allies and other nations, which were reluctant to align with such aggressive tactics.

The notion that Israel, under Netanyahu's leadership, aimed to reshape the regime in Iran—enlisting the support of U.S. President Donald Trump—has become a tangled web of miscalculations. Trump's tenure, marked by a haphazard grasp of geopolitical strategies, has not advanced his standing on the world stage as many anticipated. 

The once-ambitious Greater Israel plan is now crumbling, overshadowed by the tense ceasefire arrangements with Gaza, Iran, and Lebanon, leaving Netanyahu in a state of desperation. This situation represents not only a significant blow to Netanyahu but also a staggering setback for President Trump. Both leaders are reaping the consequences of their inability to recognize the strategic advantages held by Iran—an adversary that has garnered support from China and has been equipped with advanced military technology, which both the United States and Israel chose to underestimate. The unfolding events illustrate a profound misjudgment in the geopolitical landscape, highlighting the complexities of military power and alliances that neither leader grasped adequately.

Israel’s numerous top officials' decapitation strategies

Judge Napolitano said on the talk show that Trump has threatened to assassinate the Iranian peace team in Switzerland. The trustworthiness of President Trump has been a topic of debate, particularly regarding his actions during diplomatic negotiations. In June and February, the United States conducted bombings in Iran while discussions were ongoing. Additionally, there have been alarming threats made against Iranian officials during negotiations in Switzerland. The U.S. has also been involved in significant military actions that led to the death of high-ranking figures, including the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, as well as numerous scientists and, tragically, civilian casualties such as 168 elementary school children in Minab, Iran. These events have contributed to a pervasive sense of distrust towards the United States among many Iranians. 

Furthermore, during peace talks, Israel has been reported to have targeted Hamas negotiators, further complicating the landscape of trust in international negotiations. The actions of both the U.S. and Israel have raised concerns among those involved in diplomatic discussions and have led many to question the reliability of such parties in negotiations.

Israel and the United States executed a highly synchronized "decapitation strategy" throughout the 2026 Iran war, successfully eliminating Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, national security chief Ali Larijani, and many prominent military and scientific figures. These targeted operations were part of an extensive, multi-week aerial offensive aimed at completely dismantling the Iranian regime’s command and control network. 

The Removal of Key Leaders, as reported by ILTV Israel News, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei—Iran's long-serving Supreme Leader—was killed on February 28, 2026, during the initial phase of a combined U.S.-Israeli air assault. Approximately 30 precision bombs obliterated his central Tehran residence, resulting in his immediate death along with several family members and close aides. Ali Larijani, the head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, who had assumed the role of de facto political leader during wartime following Khamenei's assassination, was killed in an Israeli airstrike near Tehran on March 17, 2026. This attack also claimed the lives of his son and senior staff, as reported by the Guardian. 

According to a BBC report, numerous senior security and defence officials were eliminated as part of the decapitation strategy. In addition to these political leaders, the targeted strikes systematically took out the top tier of Iran's defense leadership, which included: Esmail Khatib (Intelligence Minister) Aziz Nasirzadeh (Defense Minister) Mohammad Pakpour (Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC) Gholamreza Soleimani (Leader of the paramilitary Basij force) Sayyid Abdolrahim Mousavi (Armed Forces Chief of Staff) Tactics and Consequences The main aim of this collaborative endeavor was to create a leadership gap, trigger decision-making paralysis, and facilitate domestic uprisings to instigate a complete disintegration of the Islamic Republic, as indicated by India Today. Even with the extraordinary loss of its historic leadership and severe damage to its air defence and ballistic missile capabilities, the clerical regime did not collapse immediately. Iran employed a highly decentralized "mosaic defence" strategy to launch retaliatory missile and drone attacks throughout the region. Following the assaults, Mojtaba Khamenei took on the role of Supreme Leader as the state endeavoured to maintain its political framework, according to the BBC. 

There is no official confirmation of Mojtaba Khamenei’s fate, though his precise condition and location remain the subject of intense discussion, as highlighted by a CNN podcast. The conflicting accounts and current intelligence imply the following: He was officially appointed Iran's Supreme Leader on March 8, 2026, succeeding his father, the deceased Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint U.S.-Israeli strike on February 28, 2026. Intelligence briefs and international media have suggested that he was also hurt in that same February 28 attack. 

Rumours regarding his death or incapacitation emerged. According to the Times of Israel, he has not made a public appearance or issued any statements since his appointment, leading to intense speculation. Diplomatic messages and news reports from April and May indicated he might be in a grave medical coma or incapacitated, prompting some to speculate that he had passed away. However, there are signs to suggest he is alive. Additional intelligence, including comments from U.S. officials such as Senator Marco Rubio in early June, indicates that he is alive and operating clandestinely behind the scenes, using intermediaries and handwritten notes to avoid being targeted, as CNN reported. 

Ominous strategy for more assassinations

 Is Israel planning to destabilize the MoU by implementing more assassinations of Iranian leaders and peace negotiators?

On June 22, 2026, The Guardian reported ongoing negotiations despite tensions caused by the US president's threats to bomb Iran and kidnap its negotiating team unless the Strait of Hormuz was reopened. Iranian state media indicated the talks had become challenging, particularly after an insulting message from the US president. The Iranian delegation met with Qatari mediators before leaving the negotiation site.

 A Guardian report mentioned above stated that the US president himself threatened to bomb Iran and kidnap its negotiating team to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Then why did Donald Trump panic about Israel's assassination plan 10 days ago? Journalist Pepe Escobar responded to Judge Napolitano's question on this matter. Journalist Escobar discussed an incident during negotiations in Switzerland where Iran nearly left the talks multiple times. 

During the negotiations, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal played a crucial role in persuading Iran to stay by communicating with military leaders in Pakistan and emphasizing the need for the negotiations to succeed. Qatar guaranteed financial support to Iran, assuring them they would receive their funds back even if the US withdrew from negotiations. And Saudi Arabia also promised to ensure that Iran would get their money back, underlining the importance of keeping Iran at the negotiating table.

Can Chinese technology help to stop Israel’s further assassination agenda?

Pepe Escobar, a seasoned geopolitical correspondent, and Larry Johnson, a former CIA and State Department counterterrorism expert, have discussed in several podcasts and written pieces the alleged attempts by Israel to assassinate key Pakistani figures, Asim Munir and Shehbaz Sharif. Escobar further elaborates on the positions of Iran and the U.S. regarding a memorandum of understanding, along with other significant revelations about West Asia and South Asia that have not been covered by mainstream media outlets such as the BBC, CNN, or The New York Times. Additionally, it has been reported that Pakistani intelligence informed the U.S. about Israel's plans to assassinate Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi and Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf. 

A Pakistani official told Reuters that the warning highlighted the potential risks of such actions, indicating that the removal of these leaders could create a power vacuum in Iran that might favour hardline commanders within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Following this alert, the U.S. intervened to prevent the execution of these strikes. 

The discussions also touched on a sensitive claim regarding a technological breakthrough achieved through collaboration between Pakistan and China, which purportedly enabled Iran to counter the assassination efforts against its leadership, particularly in the wake of the assassination of Ali Larijani on March 17. The conversation carefully distinguishes between claims based on sources that are still developing and those that are publicly confirmed.

Approximately 20 million people in Iran are expected to fill the streets of Tehran for the funeral of Ali Khamenei, the former supreme leader of the country, according to a report by The Telegraph. Mojtaba Khamenei's presence at the funeral could be portrayed by the Islamic Republic as a vital security precaution in light of the current conflict. There is growing uncertainty about whether Mojtaba Khamenei will make a public appearance to lead the prayers at his father's funeral.

The new Supreme Leader may not attend the funeral, especially after death threats from the Israeli defence minister, Katz.

It's troubling to witness Israel preparing for more targeted assassinations with the backing of the US. The global community has seen how the approach in Iran resulted in a failed attempt at regime change. This should serve as a crucial lesson for reevaluating US foreign policy moving forward.

Could Chinese technology play a pivotal role in curbing Israel’s potential assassination agenda in the future? One can't help but wonder about the implications for the new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, and what lies ahead for his leadership. The upcoming events could significantly shape the geopolitical landscape.

The writer is a freelance analyst.