Israeli Defense Minister Katz Warns of Imminent Attack on Key Targets in Tehran

(17 Jun 2025) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Herzliya, Israel - 17 June 2025 1. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz approaching press 2. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Israel Katz, Israeli Defense Minister: "I came here to strengthen the residents of Herzliya and to send a clear message to the dictator in Tehran, (Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali) Khamenei: If you continue to commit acts of war and launch missiles at the civilian population in Israel, your fate will be exactly like that of the dictator in the neighboring country to Iran, whose end is well-known. We will not allow harm to come to Israeli citizens, and our reach is long enough to find and deal with anyone who threatens the State of Israel." 3. Katz and military officials standing by crater 4. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Israel Katz, Israeli Defense Minister: ++AUDIO AS INCOMING++ "Today we are going to attack very significant targets within Tehran, and the IDF spokesperson will also tell residents to evacuate. We see the lines of people leaving, the lines of vehicles, and we know who the public in Tehran believes: us. We, who are calling for them to evacuate for their protection, or the dictator who wants to keep them as hostages for the protection of his regime. They believe Israel, and therefore they are evacuating, and we will continue to attack strategic targets, government targets, and infrastructure targets within Tehran." 5. Katz being briefed STORYLINE: Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Tuesday that there would be attacks on "very significant targets" in Tehran and issued a direct warning to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Speaking next to the crater formed by an Iranian rocket in Herzliya, Katz cautioned Khamenei to stop launching strikes on Israel. "If you continue to commit acts of war and launch missiles at the civilian population in Israel, your fate will be exactly like that of the dictator in the neighboring country to Iran," he said, in a thinly veiled reference to former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, who was executed in 2006. Israel’s air campaign against Iran’s capital appeared to broaden on the fourth day of an intensifying conflict as U.S. President Donald Trump posted an ominous message warning residents of the city to evacuate. Earlier, the Israeli military called for the some 330,000 residents of a neighborhood in Tehran's city center to evacuate. Israel says its sweeping assault on Iran’s top military leaders, uranium enrichment sites and nuclear scientists, is necessary to prevent its longtime adversary from getting any closer to building an atomic weapon. The strikes have killed at least 224 people since Friday. Iran has retaliated by launching more than 370 missiles and hundreds of drones at Israel. So far, 24 people have been killed in Israel and more than 500 injured. AP video by Shlomo Mor =========================================================== Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: info@aparchive.com. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives ​​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/e95609f6a6ec44d48267bf221a4efded