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WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump rejected an Israeli plan to assassinate Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in recent days, U.S. officials confirmed Sunday.
The Israelis informed Trump administration officials they had developed a credible plan to kill Khamenei amid ongoing military strikes between the two nations. Trump vetoed the proposal, officials said.
“Have the Iranians killed an American yet? No. Until they do we’re not even talking about going after the political leadership,” a senior U.S. administration official told Reuters.
Asked about the reports during a Fox News interview, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not directly address the U.S. rejection but stated, “We do what we need to do.”
Netanyahu said regime change in Iran could result from Israel’s military campaign. He emphasized Israel would take necessary actions to remove what he called Tehran’s “existential threat.”
The Trump administration seeks to prevent the conflict from expanding and views targeting Khamenei as potentially destabilizing the region. Officials said Trump himself may have delivered the veto message.
U.S.-Iran nuclear talks scheduled for Sunday in Oman were canceled following the escalating strikes. Trump told reporters Friday he “knew everything” about Israeli operations.
Netanyahu’s spokesperson later called reports about the assassination plan “fake.”
The rejection comes as Israel and Iran exchange fresh attacks Sunday, killing scores of civilians. At least 13 Israelis have died from Iranian missile strikes, while Israel targeted Iranian oil depots and military facilities.
Trump said the conflict “could be ended easily” while warning Iran against striking U.S. targets.