WASHINGTON, June 15 (Reuters) — Former U.S. President Donald Trump vetoed an Israeli proposal in recent days to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to two senior U.S. officials who spoke with Reuters.
The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that Israeli officials had communicated they had a clear opportunity to strike Iran’s top political figure amid escalating tensions following Israel’s major military operation targeting Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
“Have the Iranians killed an American yet? No. Until they do we’re not even talking about going after the political leadership,” said one source, described as a senior U.S. administration official.
While the officials did not confirm if Trump personally delivered the veto message, they noted he has been in frequent communication with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in recent days.
When asked about the Reuters report on Fox News Sunday, Netanyahu responded:
“There’s so many false reports of conversations that never happened… but I can tell you, we’ll do what we need to do. And I think the United States knows what is good for the United States.”
This development underscores the fragile and volatile nature of current Middle East dynamics, as U.S.–Israeli coordination intensifies amid fears of wider regional conflict.
This is a developing story. More details are expected as officials respond and events unfold. Stay with us for real-time updates.
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