Will continue to strike Iran: Israel's first reaction on Larijani's killing

Israel has defended its targeted strikes on senior Iranian officials, including security chief Ali Larijani, and signalled that military operations will continue, with its envoy to India saying there will be no de-escalation until there is a “change” in Iran.

In an exclusive interview with India Today’s consulting editor Rajdeep Sardesai, Reuven Azhar said the strikes that also reportedly killed senior commander Gholamreza Soleimani were part of a sustained campaign to weaken Iran’s military capabilities. He claimed that Iran’s ability to damage Israel and destabilise the region had already been reduced by “almost 80 per cent”.

Azhar made it clear that Israel does not see an immediate end to the conflict. “We won’t de-escalate until there is a change in Iran,” he said, adding that this could mean either a shift in policy or a broader change in the regime’s nature.

He argued that continued military pressure was necessary to prevent Iran from rebuilding its capabilities, particularly in areas Israel views as existential threats.

Outlining Israel’s goals, Azhar said the focus remained on ensuring Iran cannot develop nuclear weapons, limiting its ballistic missile programme, and halting its support for regional proxy groups.

“These are not new objectives,” he indicated, framing the current offensive as a continuation of long-standing Israeli concerns over Iran’s military ambitions and regional influence.

Defending the strikes on top Iranian figures, Azhar said Israel viewed such actions as legitimate in the context of an ongoing conflict. He also justified the targeting of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, alleging that he had issued direct orders against Israel.

The comments come amid heightened tensions following Israel’s claim that it had eliminated key members of Iran’s security establishment, including Larijani.

Azhar rejected suggestions that Israel was relying on the United States to fight its war, describing the ongoing campaign as a joint effort driven by shared strategic interests rather than dependency.

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