Trump vetoed Israeli plan to kill Iran’s supreme leader – report

In a recent development, President Donald Trump has vetoed an Israeli plan to assassinate Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as reported by two anonymous U.S. officials. This decision comes amidst heightened tensions following a significant Israeli military strike aimed at curtailing Iran's nuclear ambitions. One senior U.S. administration official highlighted that the rationale behind the veto was the absence of any Iranian attacks against Americans, suggesting that the U.S. government is not inclined to target Iran's political leadership unless provoked. This stance reflects Trump's ongoing strategy of balancing military action with diplomatic considerations, as he hopes to revive negotiations with Iran regarding its nuclear program. The officials indicated that there has been ongoing communication between U.S. and Israeli leaders since the strikes, although it remains unclear whether Trump personally delivered the veto message to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In response to inquiries about the report, Netanyahu refrained from confirming specific conversations, emphasizing the prevalence of misinformation regarding discussions between the two nations. He asserted that Israel will act in its own interests, while also implying that the U.S. is aware of what is beneficial for its own national security. The backdrop of this incident includes the cancellation of scheduled U.S.-Iran negotiations that were supposed to take place in Oman, further complicating the geopolitical landscape. Trump recently expressed confidence in U.S. intelligence regarding Israeli military actions, indicating a level of awareness about the operations conducted by Israel. This veto underscores the complexities of U.S.-Israeli relations and the broader implications for regional stability, particularly concerning Iran's nuclear capabilities and the strategic calculations of both nations.