Dan Shapiro, a former U.S. ambassador to Israel, said he believes President Donald Trump is considering a direct move against Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and suggested such an attempt could come as early as this week.
Shapiro pointed to recent public exchanges as the basis for his assessment. “Trump’s comments to Politico on needing new leadership in Iran, and Khamenei’s mindless baiting of Trump on X, lead me to believe that Trump is going to try to kill the Supreme Leader this week,” wrote Shapiro, who served in Israel during the Obama administration, in a social media post on Saturday.
He added that growing American military presence in the region could facilitate such an action. “There will soon be a US carrier strike group in the Middle East, making it easier for the US to carry out extensive strikes in Iran and be prepared to defend against Iranian response strikes.”
Shapiro further speculated that a strike against Khamenei could be paired with additional military operations. “Taking that shot at Khamenei, perhaps combined with strikes on IRGC and Basij command and control nodes, would allow Trump to say he is keeping faith with Iranian protesters he encouraged, and fulfilling his threat to make the regime pay for massacring them,” he wrote.
At the same time, Shapiro cautioned that even a dramatic move would not necessarily bring about political transformation in Iran. “But that is a long way from achieving regime change in Iran. Khamenei’s elimination, if it occurs, would most likely be followed initially by an IRGC takeover, and a still aggressive and repressive regime. The change of regime, when it takes place, will be authored by the Iranian people. Supporting them in their quest for freedom will require sustained focus, and largely non-kinetic measures. It will not be achieved by a one-and-done strike.”
Shapiro’s remarks followed comments by Trump that appeared to openly question Iran’s current leadership. “It’s time to look for new leadership in Iran,” Trump told Politico, in what was his most explicit statement to date suggesting regime change.
Khamenei, meanwhile, responded sharply, blaming Trump for the violence and instability inside Iran. “We see the US President as at fault for the casualties, the damages, and the slander against the Iranian nation,” he said. “The US’ goal is to swallow Iran. This was a US rebellion and the nation broke it.”
The Iranian leader also accused foreign intelligence services of orchestrating unrest. He claimed that “US and Zionist intelligence trained the leaders of the rioters abroad.”
“Those who are connected to Israel and the US killed thousands,” Khamenei alleged. “We will not drag the country into a war – but we will not let international or local criminals avoid punishment.”
Trump has repeatedly warned that the United States could step in on behalf of Iranian protesters, as reports have said thousands were killed during the regime’s crackdown on demonstrations.
Although tensions peaked at one point earlier this week, raising expectations of imminent U.S. action, the situation later appeared to cool after Trump said the killing of protesters had stopped.
{Matzav.com}
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said the terror group has no intention of laying down its arms, arguing that disarmament would amount to national collapse and insisting the organization is ready to absorb further losses to maintain its military strength.
Qassem said Hezbollah views its arsenal as essential to its mission and survival. “The weapons in our hands are meant to defend ourselves, our resistance, our people, and our homeland,” he said, asserting that surrendering those weapons would leave Lebanon weaker and serve Israel’s long-term strategic goals.
He cautioned the Lebanese government against moving forward with any effort to strip militias of their arms, claiming that such initiatives are being pushed by outside powers, specifically the United States and Israel.
Qassem said Hezbollah “will not accept” any attempt to compel it to disarm and warned of severe consequences if pressure continues. He said that if “the resistance and its environment do not surrender,” the country could descend into chaos where “not one stone will be left upon another, and no one will be safe,” adding that Hezbollah is “prepared for the worst-case scenario.”
He also reiterated the group’s broader ideological goals, saying Hezbollah remains committed to the “liberation of the Al-Aqsa Mosque” and the liberation of “Palestinian” land, declaring that “Israel and its servants will not achieve their desires.”
Last year, amid sustained American and Israeli pressure, the Lebanese government approved a phased program aimed at consolidating all weapons in the country under state authority, including arms held by Hezbollah.
Under a proposal submitted by the Lebanese Army, security forces have taken steps to seize and regulate weapons possessed by militias. Over the past year, multiple reports have cited the discovery and confiscation of weapons, explosives, rockets, and advanced arms attributed to Hezbollah.
{Matzav.com}Former hostage Eitan Mor said he accepted the possibility that he might not survive captivity in Gaza if Israel’s war aims could be achieved, explaining that he placed the needs of the State above his own life.
Speaking in a joint interview with his father, Tzvika Mor, on Kan News, Eitan described a shared outlook between them, emphasizing that both viewed the national interest as paramount even under the most painful circumstances.
“It comes together,” Eitan said when asked about his father’s stance. “I knew he would choose the path that would not harm the country.”
Eitan explained that while he was being held in Gaza, he reconciled himself with the prospect that he might never return. “I came to terms with the fact that I could die in Gaza, because the State needs to destroy Hamas,” he said.
His father said that this mindset reflects a deeply rooted Zionist approach, noting that Eitan understands the broader reality of wartime sacrifice. He said Eitan “also has the ability to understand the bigger picture, a Zionist perspective – we are in a war, the country needs to win. I am not the most important person in the world; there are also soldiers above me who are being killed.”
Asked what insight his captivity gave him about Hamas, Eitan responded bluntly. “They will not give in. Many Hamas operatives told me – until you remove the last Gazan from here, we will give you another October 7. They are extremely obsessive toward us, and I wish we were as obsessive [toward them] as they are toward us.”
During the interview, Eitan also described his interrogations while in Gaza, saying his captors focused heavily on his military background and even attempted to recruit him.
“They took me down to be interrogated in some tunnel and started questioning me about the army, what I did,” he said. “So I told them, listen, I was a regular soldier in Golani Battalion 12 – you know more than I do about the army I served in – and that’s the truth. They know more than most regular soldiers. They told me, come be a spy, we’ll pay you well. I told them, of course not.”
He added that his time in captivity exposed the extent of Hamas’ intelligence gathering, including detailed written materials about the IDF and its elite units.
When asked lightheartedly who his greatest adversaries were during his army service, Eitan quipped: “The Military Police.”
Reflecting on the demonstrations that took place in Israel during his captivity, Eitan said they were a source of encouragement, though not decisive in shaping his expectations. “Those things give strength. I thank those who went out. But I don’t think it gave me hope, because in the end the government decides. They always told me, look, you see, all Israelis want [a deal] at any price. So I told them, listen, Al Jazeera doesn’t show the other side, the right wing. And if they saw the other side, they would be very disappointed.”
{Matzav.com}
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President Donald Trump spoke by phone Thursday night with Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu to review the rapidly developing situation in Iran, according to a report published Friday by Axios, citing two individuals with knowledge of the discussion.
The call marked the second direct conversation between the two leaders within 48 hours, as Trump considers a range of responses that include possible U.S. military action as well as renewed diplomatic efforts with an Iranian regime under pressure from mass protests and internal instability.
Officials from both the White House and the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office declined to provide details or comment publicly on the calls.
According to Axios, during an earlier conversation on Wednesday, Netanyahu pressed Trump to hold off on any immediate military strike, arguing that Israel needed additional time to prepare for potential retaliation from Iran. The report said that this appeal was one of several considerations that contributed to Trump’s decision to delay authorizing U.S. military action.
U.S. officials have indicated that force remains on the table if Iran resumes the killing of protesters, while Israeli officials believe that a strike is still possible in the near term despite the current pause.
Axios also reported previously that Netanyahu sent Mossad Director David Barnea to the United States to coordinate closely with American officials on Iran-related matters. Barnea is expected to hold talks Friday in Miami with White House envoy Steve Witkoff.
The report detailing the second Trump-Netanyahu call appeared before Trump addressed reporters’ questions about whether pressure from Arab or Israeli leaders influenced his decision not to strike Iran. Trump dismissed that notion, saying, “No one convinced me. I convinced myself.”
He pointed to recent developments inside Iran as a key factor, adding, “You had, yesterday, scheduled, over 800 hangings. They didn’t hang anyone. They cancelled the hangings. That had a big impact.”
Later Thursday night, speaking at an Israeli-American Council conference in Miami, Witkoff expressed optimism that diplomacy could still avert conflict. He said any agreement with Iran would need to tackle multiple core issues, including its uranium enrichment program, its stockpile of ballistic missiles, the removal of roughly 2,000 kilograms of enriched uranium held by Tehran, and an end to Iran’s backing of proxy forces across the region.
Describing Iran’s internal economic crisis, Witkoff said, “I think if Iran, which is stumbling it its economy. It’s a pretty serious situation. Inflation is well north of 50%.” He added that Tehran still has a path toward a negotiated outcome, saying, “If they want to come back to the League of Nations, we can solve those four problems diplomatically and that would be a good resolution and the alternative will be a bad one.”
{Matzav.com}President Donald Trump said Friday that Iran’s leadership had halted a large number of planned executions of anti-regime protesters, crediting the move with averting what he described as an imminent wave of hangings.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump publicly acknowledged the Iranian government’s decision, writing: “I greatly respect the fact that all scheduled hangings, which were to take place yesterday (Over 800 of them), have been cancelled by the leadership of Iran. Thank you!”
Later, while speaking with reporters, Trump was asked whether pressure from Arab or Israeli officials had persuaded him to refrain from launching a military strike against Iran. He rejected that suggestion, responding, “No one convinced me. I convinced myself.”
He went on to emphasize the significance of the reported reversal by Tehran, saying, “You had, yesterday, scheduled, over 800 hangings. They didn’t hang anyone. They cancelled the hangings. That had a big impact,” according to his remarks.
Trump’s comments followed earlier statements made two days prior, when he asserted that the killing of protesters in Iran had stopped at a moment when a potential U.S. military action appeared close. At that time, he told reporters in the Oval Office, “We have been notified pretty strongly that the killing in Iran is stopping, and there’s no plan for executions or an execution.”
He added that the information had come from reliable sources but cautioned that the situation would continue to be monitored. “I’ve been told that in good authority. We’ll find out about it, I’m sure. If it happens, we’ll be very upset.”
Additional details emerged Thursday night from Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, who spoke at the opening session of the 10th Israeli American Council National Summit in Florida. Witkoff said that, acting on Trump’s instructions, the United States had contacted Iranian officials on Wednesday to convey concerns over reports of impending mass executions. “And that’s been shut down, I think, as everyone knows, the President has announced that. He’s the only one in the world who has that indomitable strength that can bend people. I watch it happen. It’s quite remarkable to watch it happen.”
When asked whether he anticipated military action against Iran, Witkoff said he hoped diplomacy would prevail. “Well, I hope there’s a diplomatic resolution. I really do. There are four issues: Nuclear enrichment, missiles, they have to cut back on their inventory, the actual material that they have, which is roughly 2,000 kilograms which is enriched anywhere between 3.67% to 60%, and the proxies, of course.”
{Matzav.com}
President Donald Trump warned Friday that federal intervention in Minnesota would bring a swift end to unrest tied to immigration enforcement, declaring that state and local leaders are incapable of restoring order.
“In Minnesota, the Troublemakers, Agitators, and Insurrectionists are, in many cases, highly paid professionals. The Governor and Mayor don’t know what to do, they have totally lost control, and our currently being rendered, USELESS! If, and when, I am forced to act, it will be solved, QUICKLY and EFFECTIVELY! President DJT”
The statement was posted to Trump’s Truth Social account as protests continued to intensify in the Twin Cities following several high-profile encounters involving federal immigration agents.
Although Trump did not spell out what steps he might take, his warning came as tensions rose over the expanding role of federal authorities in immigration-related operations across Minneapolis and surrounding areas.
Demonstrations escalated sharply after the Jan. 7 fatal shooting of Renee Good, a 37-year-old Minneapolis woman, during an incident connected to Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity.
The growing unrest has also placed renewed focus on the tactics used by immigration officers during vehicle stops and arrests, prompting public criticism and legal scrutiny.
The Associated Press reported Friday that Aliya Rahman, a U.S. citizen, was pulled from her car and detained by immigration officers in Minneapolis, an incident that further fueled anger among demonstrators.
Also on Friday, the AP reported that a federal judge ordered the release of a Liberian man arrested by immigration agents in Minneapolis, ruling that the detention violated Fourth Amendment protections.
Trump’s remarks followed earlier comments in which he suggested he could invoke the Insurrection Act, a rarely used law that allows a president to deploy military forces domestically under narrowly defined circumstances.
Minnesota officials have urged residents to remain calm while condemning what they describe as an expanded federal footprint, as protests continue and multiple investigations and court challenges move forward.
{Matzav.com}
President Donald Trump said Friday that he could impose tariffs on other countries if they resist his effort to bring Greenland under U.S. control, tying the issue directly to what he described as American national security interests.
“If they don’t go along with” his push, Trump said, economic penalties could be used. Speaking at the opening of a White House healthcare roundtable, he added, “We need Greenland for national security. So I may do that,” referring to the possible use of tariffs.
Trump has repeatedly argued in recent months that the United States must control Greenland for strategic reasons. The island is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, a status that has been a central point of dispute in Trump’s remarks.
Inside the administration, officials have examined a range of approaches to the issue, including the idea of purchasing the territory, though no formal proposal has been announced.
Greenland and Denmark have consistently rejected the notion, stating that the island is not for sale and has no desire to become part of the United States.
Denmark’s position has been echoed by several European leaders, who have publicly backed Copenhagen and said Washington has no right to take control of the Arctic island.
Trump’s comments marked the first time he publicly suggested tariffs as a potential tool to advance his stance on Greenland.
{Matzav.com}
A senior commander in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued an explicit threat against President Donald Trump on Thursday, vowing violent retaliation in response to the president’s warnings about possible U.S. military action against Tehran.
Speaking publicly, Gen. Mohsen Rezaei warned that Iran would respond directly to Trump’s statements about the use of force. “Trump has said his hand is on the trigger. We will cut off his hand and his finger,” Rezaei said, according to Iran International.
Rezaei also made clear that Iran would reject any attempt at de-escalation once hostilities begin. “If we move forward, there will be no talk of a ceasefire anymore,” he said.
In his remarks, the general accused the United States of ignoring Iran’s restraint and cautioned against further escalation. “You do not pay attention to the restraint and strategic patience we have shown,” Rezaei added. “Stop right now. Step back, otherwise none of your bases in the region will be safe.”
The comments were delivered amid reports that the United States has begun repositioning military assets closer to the Middle East. Sources confirmed that at least one U.S. aircraft carrier has been moved toward the region as tensions between Washington and Tehran intensify.
Officials have not disclosed which carrier is involved. Military officials say the voyage could take roughly a week, with additional forces potentially deploying afterward, expanding the range of military options available to Trump.
Rezaei is a longtime powerbroker within Iran’s military and political establishment. He led the IRGC from 1980 until 1997 and currently holds several senior roles, including vice president for economic affairs and secretary of Iran’s Supreme Council for Economic Coordination. He is also a prominent figure within the Principlist Resistance Front of Islamic Iran.
Internationally, Rezaei has faced legal and financial consequences. In 2006, Argentine authorities issued an international arrest warrant for him over his alleged role in the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish community center in Buenos Aires. The U.S. Treasury Department later sanctioned him in 2020, citing his involvement in advancing destabilizing activities.
The escalating rhetoric comes as Iran faces growing internal unrest. According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, at least 2,677 people have been arrested, with another 1,693 cases currently under investigation.
{Matzav.com}
Mossad Director David Barnea arrived in the United States on Friday for discussions focused on developments in Iran, according to Israeli officials and others familiar with the visit.
The trip is part of ongoing coordination between Israel and the United States as large-scale protests continue inside Iran and Washington weighs possible military steps in response to the Iranian regime’s actions.
According to those familiar with the matter, Barnea is expected to meet in Miami with White House envoy Steve Witkoff, who has been managing a direct channel between the United States and Iran. Witkoff has remained in contact with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi throughout the unrest. It is still unclear whether Barnea will also meet with President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence over the weekend.
Barnea’s visit follows a phone call earlier this week between President Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that centered on the situation in Iran. During the conversation, Netanyahu reportedly asked the United States to hold off on any military action in order to give Israel additional time to prepare for a possible Iranian response.
Israeli officials have raised concerns that potential U.S. strikes, as currently under discussion, would focus primarily on Iranian security forces and might not significantly weaken the regime itself. U.S. officials, meanwhile, have said that military action remains on the table if Iran resumes deadly force against protesters. Israeli assessments suggest that even with a delay, a U.S. strike could still take place in the near future.
At the same time, U.S. military preparations are continuing, with additional forces and equipment being moved into the region. These reportedly include the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group, along with expanded air defense systems, fighter jets, and possibly submarines.
In parallel, Abbas Araghchi has suggested reviving nuclear negotiations during his contacts with Witkoff. Israeli officials are concerned that Tehran could use renewed talks to ease international pressure and buy time, though some believe the current crisis may push the Iranian regime to consider concessions it has previously refused.
{Matzav.com}The body of Moshe Ludmir, a talmid at the Boyan Yeshiva in Modiin Illit, was recovered on Friday, bringing an end to a days-long search after he disappeared earlier in the week.
Moshe had gone to the Modiin Stream near his yeshiva on Tuesday together with another student in order to enter the water. During the outing, he was carried away by the strong current. The second boy was rescued later that same day and alerted authorities, prompting an extensive search effort that continued until Friday.
Sixteen years old, Moshe was from Beitar Illit and had only recently begun studying at the Tiferes Yisrael Ruzhin Boyan Yeshiva in Modiin Illit, marking his first year at the yeshiva.
Describing the operation, Lieutenant Commander Shlomi Harosh, who heads the Binyamin Region of the Israel Fire and Rescue Service, said: “This is a tragic event in which a young man lost his life. This was a complex and challenging search because there was a lot of drift in the stream and in the water crossings under the bridges along the stream, as well as the stormy weather that prevailed during the first days of the search.”
Police officials stated that search activity was carried out without interruption over the course of four days, involving close coordination among law enforcement, rescue services, and civilian volunteers.
A police spokeswoman provided further details, saying: “On the morning of the fourth day of searches conducted by the Judea and Samaria District police, along with numerous emergency security and rescue personnel, alongside hundreds of volunteers, the body of the missing young man who had been swept away in the Modi’im Stream was located.”
{Matzav.com}
