Trump Vetoes Israeli Plan to Target Iranian Leader

President Donald Trump has reportedly vetoed an Israeli initiative aimed at assassinating Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This information comes from multiple sources.

Two unnamed U.S. officials informed Reuters that Israel had an opportunity to go after Khamenei, but the White House was firmly against such action. According to one senior official, there’s a perception that Iran has not harmed Americans, and therefore targeting its political leadership isn’t warranted.

“Have the Iranians killed an American yet? No. Until they do we’re not even talking about going after the political leadership,” said the official.

Reports from Fox News, the Associated Press, and Axios have corroborated the details provided by Reuters.

U.S. officials noted ongoing communication with their Israeli counterparts since the missile exchanges escalated between Israel and Iran.

When asked about the assassination plan during a Sunday interview on Fox News, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not confirm or deny the White House’s stance.

“But I can tell you, I think that we do what we need to do, we’ll do what we need to do. And I think the United States knows what is good for the United States,” Netanyahu remarked.

Netanyahu also mentioned a recent assassination attempt against him, claiming that a missile was fired near his residence.

“They sent a missile through my bedroom window,” he said. “I’ll tell you, they view President Trump as an enormous obstacle. They think that Israel is a very big obstacle, and they’re out to get us both.”

Trump has penned several posts on Truth Social advocating for peace between Iran and Israel, suggesting that a deal could be reached.

Some politicians, including Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Representative Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), along with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, support the idea of Trump avoiding foreign conflicts as part of the “America First” approach.

“The real divide isn’t between people who support Israel and people who support Iran or the Palestinians. The real divide is between those who casually encourage violence and those who seek to prevent it — between warmongers and peacemakers,” Carlson stated in a recent post.

Paul also reflected on Trump’s approach to the recent airstrikes, expressing concern over the potential human cost involved.

“I think it’s going to be very hard to come out of this and have a negotiated settlement,” he added. “I see more war and more carnage, and it’s not the U.S.’s job to be involved in this war.”

On the other hand, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has been a vocal supporter of Israel’s military actions, suggesting that U.S. involvement aligns with national security interests.

“I applaud President Trump for urging Iran back to the negotiating table,” Graham stated. “However, if Iran refuses this offer, I strongly believe it is in America’s national security interest to go all-in to help Israel finish the job.”

In a different context, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testified that Iran is not actively pursuing a nuclear weapon, a point that contradicts some justifications for the recent Israeli strikes.

Gabbard told the Senate Intelligence Committee that the U.S. intelligence community does not believe Iran has resumed its nuclear weapons program.

Despite her testimony, GOP Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) argued that Iran’s activities pose a threat that must be addressed.

“For the sake of our national security, the security of our allies, and millions of civilians in the region this cannot be allowed to happen,” he asserted.