NEW YORK, United States (Kaab TV) – President Donald Trump recently blocked an Israeli plan to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to two U.S. officials who spoke to Reuters on Sunday.
“Have the Iranians killed an American yet? No. Until they do, we’re not even discussing targeting their political leadership,” said a senior U.S. administration official familiar with the matter.
The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that senior American and Israeli officials have been in constant communication since Israel launched a major military campaign—Operation Rising Lion—aimed at crippling Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
During those discussions, Israeli officials reportedly informed their American counterparts that they had a clear opportunity to eliminate Khamenei, but Trump overruled the plan.
While the sources did not confirm whether Trump personally delivered the message, they noted that he has been in frequent contact with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
When asked about the Reuters report during an appearance on Fox News Channel’s Special Report with Bret Baier on Sunday, Netanyahu dismissed the story, saying:
“There are so many false reports of conversations that never happened, and I’m not going to get into that.”
He added: “But I can tell you this: we’ll do what we need to do. And I think the United States knows what’s best for the United States.”
Israel–Iran Conflict Intensifies
Since June 13, Israel has conducted massive airstrikes across Tehran and other key Iranian locations, targeting nuclear facilities, missile launchers, the Defense Ministry, and critical energy infrastructure.
The strikes mark the third consecutive day of intense bombardment under Operation Rising Lion.
Iranian officials report at least 224 people killed and 1,481 injured, mostly civilians.
Among the dead are senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders, including the IRGC intelligence chief and two high-ranking generals.
In retaliation, Iran has launched multiple waves of ballistic missiles and drones at Israel, including more than 70 overnight strikes.
Some of these breached Israeli air defenses and struck populated areas such as Tel Aviv, Bat Yam, and Haifa.
On the Israeli side, at least 10 to 14 people have been killed, with hundreds injured and extensive damage reported to homes and infrastructure in major cities.
Tel Aviv’s main airport remains closed, further escalating concerns over the widening scope of the conflict.