Former U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly blocked an Israeli plan to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei amid rising regional tensions, according to senior American officials. The move comes as Israel and Iran exchange deadly strikes and global leaders scramble to prevent further escalation.
According to two unnamed U.S. officials cited by Reuters, Trump intervened to prevent Israel from targeting Iran’s top political figure during recent operations aimed at crippling Tehran’s nuclear capabilities. One official emphasized that Trump’s administration had drawn a red line: “Have the Iranians killed an American yet? No. Until they do we’re not even talking about going after the political leadership.”
The reported plan followed a major Israeli offensive on Iranian military assets. Despite the opportunity presented by Israeli intelligence, the officials say Trump decided against authorizing the strike. While it remains unclear whether Trump communicated the directive directly, sources confirm he has maintained close contact with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
When asked about the report, Netanyahu neither confirmed nor denied the details. “There’s so many false reports of conversations that never happened,” he told Fox News. “We’ll do what we need to do. And I think the United States knows what is good for the United States.”
Trump, who has expressed ongoing interest in restarting diplomatic talks with Tehran, reportedly saw the assassination as counterproductive to peace efforts. Negotiations scheduled in Oman were called off following the intensifying conflict.
Despite the violence, Trump remained optimistic in public remarks. On Truth Social, he claimed peace between Israel and Iran was within reach and hinted at undisclosed diplomatic efforts involving Russian President Vladimir Putin. Speaking to ABC News, Trump said he was open to Putin playing a mediating role despite Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
The situation in the Middle East remains fluid, with deadly retaliatory strikes continuing between Israel and Iran over the weekend. While Trump projects optimism, Israeli leadership has indicated its campaign against Iran will escalate further.
