'Iranian leaders packing their bags': Benjamin Netanyahu says Ayatollah regime was planning to give nuclear weapons to proxies

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a video published on Saturday, said his government received information that the Iranian regime was planning to hand over nuclear weapons to its proxies.

Threatening further attacks to remove the Iranian regime, the PM said, "We have indications that senior leaders in Iran are already packing their bags. They sense what is coming."

This comes amid Iranian media reports that an Israeli drone struck the South Pars refinery in the port city of Kangan. This is the first time that Israel attacked Iran's oil and natural gas facilities.

The Israeli PM, in a message to US President Donald Trump, wished him a happy birthday, and thanked him for doing "great things" for Israel and protecting Israelis from the criminal regime in Iran.

He said by defending themselves, Israel is defending its Arab neighbours, Europe and the United States. "Our victory will be your victory," he added.

Netanyahu said Israel has assassinated Iran's senior military leaders and technologists who are helming atomic weapons programme of the country that could threaten the world.

Earlier, Netanyahu warned Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, declaring that Israeli Air Force jet would soon fly over Tehran skies.

"In the very near future, you will see Israeli planes, the Israeli Air Force, our pilots above the sky of Tehran. We will hit with every place, every site, every target of the Ayotallah’s regime," said Netanyahu in another video statement. He added that "what they have felt is nothing comparable to what they will feel".

He warned Iran that the future attacks will be far more deadly that what had happened in the past two days. He also condoled the deaths of three people killed in Iranian missile attacks.

Responding to Netanyahu, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said there would be a "more severe and powerful response" if Israel continued to strike Iran. Iran saw 78 deaths and 320 injuries in the attacks by Israel.

Middle East