By Maayan Lubell and Rami Ayyub JERUSALEM, March 12 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday issued a veiled threat to kill Iran's new supreme leader as he sought to use his first press conference since the start of the war to defend his joint military assault with the U.

Donald Trump told aides on Monday that he "would back" the killing of Iran's new supreme leader if he refuses U.S. demands.

Iran’s new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has issued his first statement Thursday. He did not appear on camera and the speech was read by a news anchor. An Israeli assessment indicates

Calling out President Donald Trump directly, the Supreme Leader added: “The U.S. President threatens us. With his absurd rhetoric, he demands that the Iranian people surrender to him. They should make threats against those who are afraid of being threatened. The Iranian nation isn’t frightened by such threats.”

Ret. U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. John Teichert and former State Department official Nathan Sales discuss Iran’s strikes on Israel and questions surrounding the timeline of Operation Epic Fury on ‘Fox News @ Night.

Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei vows revenge and to continue to put pressure on the Strait of Hormuz in first remarks aired on state TV.