Trump rejects Israeli plan to kill Iran’s Supreme Leader, US officials say

WEBDESK, June 16:  US President Donald Trump rebuffed a clandestine Israeli proposal to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, amid growing tensions in the region, US officials said on Sunday.

The proposal, reportedly put forward by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was part of a broader plan to undermine Iran’s leadership and force a change of regime in Tehran. According to US sources, Netanyahu pressed for a decisive attack on Iran’s power structure, arguing it was a unique opportunity to “cripple Iran’s ability to sponsor terrorism.”

However, Trump dismissed the proposal, insisting that killing Iran’s highest leader could spiral into a dangerous escalation and draw the US into a wider conflict in the Middle East. His rejection underscores deep divisions within policy circles over how far to go in addressing Iran’s growing aggression.

Even as the conflict escalated, administration officials made clear they were open to continuing nuclear talks with Iran — hoping that, despite impossible odds, they could salvage a peaceful solution.

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Sources familiar with the matter say Israel has spoken with the US about possibly increasing its level of involvement. However, one Israeli official cautioned that those conversations have not yet included “practical” discussions of the finer details. And while Trump hopes to avoid a prolonged conflict that could further destabilize the Middle East, some in the administration recognize that American military assistance may help Israel achieve its objectives more quickly, the sources said.

“We’re not involved in it. It’s possible we could get involved. But we are not at this moment involved,” Trump told ABC News on Sunday morning.

The revelations come amid reports that Iran recently launched attacks on Haifa, a key Israeli port city, in a dramatic escalation of violence. Iran said the attacks were a direct response to Israeli aggression and a demonstration of its ability to retaliate against what it called “acts of war.”

The incident highlights the growing volatility in the region, as Iran and Israel move closer to a showdown — a conflict that could have dramatic implications for stability across the Middle East and beyond