Donald Trump rejected Israeli plan to kill Iran’s Khamenei amid spiralling Middle East tensions
16 June 2025, 00:09
Donald Trump rejected an Israeli proposal to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader during recent discussions over escalating tensions in the Middle East, senior US officials have said.
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The revelation comes as fears grow of a wider conflict in the region, with missile strikes by Israel and Iran continuing on Sunday.
Sources told US media that Israel had briefed the Trump administration on a covert operation to target Iran’s top political figure — but the US President refused to sign it off.
One senior official said Mr Trump’s position was clear: "Have the Iranians killed an American yet? No. Until they do, we’re not even talking about going after the political leadership."
The White House has maintained that it wants Israel’s military actions to remain focused on limiting Iran’s nuclear capabilities, and not to spark a broader regional war.
When asked about the reports, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined to confirm the claims, telling Fox News: "There are so many false reports of conversations that never happened, and I’m not going to get into that."
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But he added: "We do what we need to do. And I think the United States knows what is good for the United States."
World leaders are due to gather in Calgary on Monday for the G7 summit, where the conflict in the Middle East is expected to dominate discussions.
Mr Trump has urged Iran and Israel to "sign a peace deal," writing on his Truth Social site:
"Iran and Israel should make a deal, and will make a deal. We will have PEACE, soon, between Israel and Iran! Many calls and meetings now taking place.”
The US President said calls and meetings were underway to bring both sides to the negotiating table and end the escalating conflict.
In an interview with ABC News, he said he had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin about acting as a mediator.
On Sunday, Israeli strikes killed the chief of Iran's armed forces intelligence unit, as Benjamin Netanyahu's forces continued to carry out attacks on Iranian targets.
Tel Aviv officials say 10 people were killed following Iranian strikes — six in Bat Yam, south of Tel Aviv, and four in the northern town of Tamra — and more than 100 others injured.
Explosions and loud booms were heard in cities including Haifa, Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem.
Iran launched another wave of drones and ballistic missiles, but the IDF said most were intercepted, with no reports of any impacts.
Israel launched its first round of strikes on Friday, hitting 250 sites including nuclear facilities, military locations, and populated areas.
Iran's health ministry reports that at least 224 people have been killed in Israeli attacks since Friday, with around 900 injured.
There has been heavy traffic in Tehran as people try to leave the city.
Mr Netanyahu said that even if Iran agrees to stop firing missiles at Israel as part of any deal, it does not mean they will stop developing their nuclear capabilities.
"The issue here is not de-escalation. The issue here is not ceasefire. The issue is to stop those things that threaten our survival," he told Fox News.
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