Washington (TDI): Trump rejects Israel’s proposal to eliminate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, says US officials amid rising escalation in the Middle East.
The proposal was apparently under consideration following Israel’s mass strikes on Iranian military and nuclear targets last week. Trump himself spoke to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to express that such an operation “was not a good idea,” preferring not to widen the regional war.
Though full details of the planned assassination are kept secret, both Israel and US have confirmed that the discussion took place after the escalating bilateral missile exchanges between Iran and Israel, which have been ongoing for a fifth day as of today.
An Israeli official told CBS News, “In principle,” Israel does not assassinate political leaders, but clarified that “the Supreme Leader should be changing bedrooms at night,” that is, top decision-makers behind Iran’s military and nuclear programs are on the radar.
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Trump administration publicly denied any US involvement in the Israeli attack, as the President posted on Truth Social that the US “had nothing to do with the attack on Iran.” Trump also warned Iran that any attack on US property would be answered with “strength and might at levels never before seen.”
While neither leader publicly confirmed the details of the alleged proposed assassination, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu dodged giving a direct answer when questioned about the report, saying, “There are so many false reports of conversations that never happened and I’m not going to get into that.”
He went on further to say, “We will do what we need to do, and I think the United States knows what is good for the United States.”
As the conflict between Iran and Israel continues with active exchange of missiles, Trump’s rejection of the Israeli plot to kill Iran’s Supreme Leader is the US’ delicate balance between provocation and deterrence, while also staying open to nuclear talks which were ongoing prior Israel’s attack on Iran.
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