BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 4. Israeli Defense
Minister Israel Katz announced that any leader appointed by Iran’s
leadership to continue policies against Israel and its allies would
be considered a target, Trend reports.


“Any leader appointed by the Iranian terrorist regime to
continue leading the plan to destroy Israel, threaten the US and
the free world and the countries of the region, and oppress the
Iranian people will be an unequivocal target for elimination. It
doesn't matter what his name is or where he hides,” Katz wrote on
his X account.


He added that he and the prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu have
instructed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to prepare and act with
all means necessary to accomplish the mission as part of the
objectives of Operation “Roar of the Harrier.”


Katz said Israel would continue working with its American
partners to weaken the capabilities of Iran’s leadership and create
conditions for change.


Following the second round of nuclear talks between Washington
and Tehran on February 17, which ended without progress, the U.S.
increased its presence in areas near Iran, deploying over 150
aircraft to bases in Europe and the Middle East.


The escalation follows the 3rd round of nuclear talks between
Iran and the United States in Geneva on February 26. Held under the
administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, the negotiations
were viewed as the final chance to strike a deal diplomatically.
However, no agreements were reached, as Tehran refused to halt
uranium enrichment, dismantle its nuclear facilities, or accept
indefinite restrictions on its nuclear program. Israel launched its
airstrikes shortly afterward, with the country's Defense Minister
Katz emphasizing that the operations were preemptive.


In a significant escalation, military airstrikes conducted by
Israel and the United States resulted in the deaths of Iran’s
Supreme Leader Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several members of his
family.


Additionally, several of Iran’s most senior military and
security officials were killed in the airstrikes, including Chief
of Staff Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Islamic Revolutionary
Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander-in-Chief Mohammad Pakpour, Supreme
Leader adviser and Defense Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani, and
Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh.