Donald Trump vetoed an Israeli plan to kill Iran‘s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, U.S. officials told Reuters and The Associated Press (AP).
The Israeli government discussed the proposed plan with the Trump administration in recent days, and the president balked at it, an anonymous U.S. official told the AP.
“Have the Iranians killed an American yet? No. Until they do we’re not even talking about going after the political leadership,” an anonymous U.S. official told Reuters, which first reported the news.
When asked about the plot on Fox News’ Special Report with Bret Baier, Netanyahu declined to comment, adding, “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.”
Israel has launched strikes against Iran, killing at least 406 people and wounding 654, according to Washington-based Human Rights Activists, the AP reported. Israel opened with strike on an Iranian nuclear facility Friday that killed a number of top generals and nuclear scientists. In retaliation, Iran launched missile strikes on Israel, some of which penetrated the nation’s Iron Dome missile defense and landed in Tel Aviv. Israel’s government said that 14 people have been killed in strikes since Friday and another 390 have been wounded.
Trump posted Sunday about the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran in a message on Truth Social. “Iran and Israel should make a deal, and will make a deal,” the president wrote, taking credit for recent de-escalation between India and Pakistan. He added, “We will have PEACE, soon, between Israel and Iran! Many calls and meetings now taking place. I do a lot, and never get credit for anything, but that’s OK, the PEOPLE understand. MAKE THE MIDDLE EAST GREAT AGAIN!”
In a post hours earlier, Trump said the United States “had nothing to do with the attack on Iran, tonight.”
“If we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the U.S. Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before,” he threatened.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that if Israel stops its assault, then “our responses will also stop.”
Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel will halt its attacks if Iran agrees to U.S. demands that the nation dismantle its nuclear capabilities. He also called the Iranian regime “very weak.”
“The issue here is stopping those things that will threaten our survival. And we’re committed to stopping them, and I think we can achieve them,” Netanyahu said on Fox News. “Now, if they are willing to accept President Trump’s terms, that’s another matter.”
Trump has said that “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon” and “can’t have enrichment.”
If Iran does not agree to Trump’s demands, then Netanyahu said the conflict will “end when we remove those capacities, and we will.”
