Kathmandu— Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed on Monday that Iran attempted to kill one of his sons, though he provided no specific details regarding the alleged plot or which son was targeted. The accusation comes after a joint United States-Israel strike in Tehran resulted in the deaths of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and four family members, including his daughter and granddaughter. Netanyahu made the claim during an interview with Channel 14, a conservative Israeli news outlet, while discussing security concerns for political rivals.

Escalating Tensions Following Strike

The recent allegation follows a significant escalation of conflict initiated by a US-Israeli strike on Tehran that killed Ali Khamenei and four members of his family. Among those killed was Khamenei’s daughter, Boshra, and her 14-month-old granddaughter, Zahra. Iran has vowed to retaliate for the killings, promising revenge for the loss of its supreme leader and family.

Political Context of Allegation

Netanyahu's claim emerged as his political coalition currently trails in opinion polls leading up to general elections scheduled for October. He raised the issue while responding to reports that a security detail had been declined for Gadi Eisenkot, a former army chief and current rival candidate for prime minister. Netanyahu argued that providing around-the-clock protection for Eisenkot was “not a luxury,” suggesting it was necessary given the perceived threat from Iran.

Family Security Measures

Israeli authorities extended personal protection to both of Netanyahu’s sons and his wife in July, according to reports. His elder son, Yair, 35, has been residing in Miami since early 2024, a situation that has drawn criticism in Israel due to the associated taxpayer costs for his security detail. Mojtaba Khamenei was named as the new supreme leader of Iran one week after Ali Khamenei’s death and pledged to “avenge the blood” of his father.

Succession in Iran

Following the death of Ali Khamenei, his son Mojtaba has been appointed as the new supreme leader. Despite this appointment, Mojtaba Khamenei has remained out of public view since assuming the role. However, a message released during funeral ceremonies for his father indicated a commitment to seeking retribution for those responsible.

Mojtaba Khamenei’s pledge to avenge his father's death suggests further escalation is possible as tensions remain high between Israel and Iran.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.