US President Donald Trump has turned down a proposal from Israel to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to three US officials who spoke with media.
According to one official, Trump allegedly advised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the assassination of Khamenei would be “not a good idea.” The president has yet to make a public statement regarding the report.
Reports indicate that the conversation took place following Israel’s attack on Iran, which occurred on Friday.
In a recent interview with Fox News, Netanyahu refrained from directly confirming or denying a Reuters report indicating that Trump had vetoed a proposal to eliminate the ayatollah.
The Israeli prime minister stated, “There are numerous inaccurate reports of conversations that never took place, and I will refrain from discussing that.”
“However, I can assert that we are taking the necessary actions.” The United States will take necessary actions, and the country is aware of what is in its best interest. However, I will refrain from further commentary on the matter.
An Israeli official informed CBS News that, “in principle,” the nation does not engage in the assassination of political leaders, emphasizing a focus on nuclear and military matters. I believe that individuals responsible for making decisions regarding those programs should not be enjoying a life of ease and comfort.
On Friday, Israel initiated an assault on Iranian nuclear infrastructure and various other targets. Since then, the two countries have persisted in executing extensive strikes against one another, with hostilities now extending into a third day as of Sunday.
In a recent update on Truth Social regarding the intensifying conflict in the Middle East, Trump stated, “Iran and Israel should make a deal.” He further claimed that he could facilitate a cessation of hostilities between the two nations, drawing a parallel to his previous efforts with India and Pakistan amid their recent tensions.
Before departing for the G7 summit in Canada, Trump addressed reporters, affirming that the US would maintain its support for Israel. He refrained from commenting on whether he had requested the nation to cease its strikes on Iran.
The upcoming round of nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran, initially set for Sunday, has been called off. This announcement came from Oman’s foreign minister, Badr Albusaidi, who revealed the cancellation just a day prior to the scheduled talks.
Iran has communicated to Qatar and Oman its unwillingness to engage in ceasefire negotiations as long as it continues to face Israeli attacks, according to an official familiar with the discussions, as reported by the Reuters news agency on Sunday.
On Saturday, Trump asserted that the United States “had nothing to do with the attack on Iran.”
“In the event of any form of aggression from Iran, a stark warning was issued: the United States Armed Forces will respond with unprecedented strength and might,” he stated.
