WASHINGTON,— U.S. President Donald Trump rejected an Israeli plan to kill Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to two senior U.S. officials who spoke to Reuters on Sunday.
“Have the Iranians killed an American yet? No. Until that happens, we’re not considering targeting their political leadership,” said one senior U.S. administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The officials explained that U.S. leaders have been in regular contact with Israeli counterparts since Israel launched a major military operation against Iran to disrupt its nuclear program.
According to the sources, Israeli officials informed the U.S. they had a chance to kill Khamenei but were instructed by Trump to stand down.
It remains unclear whether Trump personally delivered the directive, but he has been in close communication with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
When asked about the report, Netanyahu told Fox News’ “Special Report with Bret Baier” on Sunday, “There are many false reports about conversations that never took place, and I won’t comment on that.” He added, “But we will do what we must. The United States understands what is best for itself.”
Trump has expressed hope for renewed U.S.-Iran negotiations regarding Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. However, talks planned for Sunday in Oman were canceled following the Israeli strikes.
On Friday, Trump told Reuters, “We knew everything” about the Israeli military operation.
The Israeli strikes, launched early Friday, targeted nuclear and military sites in several Iranian cities.
At least 20 senior Iranian military figures were killed, including Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander Hossein Salami, Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Ali Shamkhani, advisor to Khamenei on political affairs, and IRGC Air Force Commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh.
(With files from Reuters)
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