Trump vetoed Israeli plan to kill Iran's supreme leader: Official
President Donald Trump vetoed a plan presented by Israel to the US to kill Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to a US official familiar with the matter.
The Israelis informed the Trump administration in recent days that it had developed a credible plan to kill Khamanei.
After being briefed on the plan, the White House made clear to Israeli officials that Trump was opposed to the Israelis making the move, according to the official who was not authorised to comment on the sensitive matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
The Trump administration is desperate to keep Israel's military operation aimed at decapitating Iran's nuclear program from exploding into an even more expansive conflict and saw the plan to kill Khamenei as a move that would enflame the conflict and potentially destabilize the region.
Asked on Sunday about the plan during a Fox News Channel's "Special Report with Bret Baier, on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined to comment.
"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 said.
Trump's rejection of the proposal was first reported by Reuters.
Associated Press
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Khaleej Times
19 minutes ago
- Khaleej Times
US cancels next round of talks on easing tensions with Russia, says Moscow
Russia said on Monday that the US had cancelled the next round of talks between the two countries, an apparent setback in a process launched by presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump to improve bilateral ties. In a statement, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova did not say if Washington had given any reason for the break in the talks, which began after Trump returned to the White House in January. Russia had described relations as "below zero" under the previous administration of President Joe Biden, which provided advanced US weapons to Ukraine and imposed multiple rounds of sanctions on Moscow over the war. "As of today, the next meeting within the framework of bilateral consultations on eliminating 'irritants' in order to normalize the activities of diplomatic missions of both countries has been cancelled at the initiative of the American negotiators," Zakharova said. "We hope that the pause they have taken will not last too long." Russia had said only last week that the US-Russia talks, which have been proceeding on a separate track from discussions about ending the war in Ukraine, would soon move to Moscow from Istanbul. However, the Kremlin - while denying that dialogue had stalled - also said last week that there were "a lot of blockages in bilateral relations" and talks on improving them were not expected to yield quick results. Both sides say there is huge potential for business and investment deals if relations improve. But Trump, despite holding five phone calls with President Vladimir Putin - most recently on Saturday - has voiced frustration about Russia's war actions in Ukraine and the lack of any visible progress towards a peace deal.
Middle East Eye
an hour ago
- Middle East Eye
'We bombed, and what now'? Tel Aviv empties as Israel and Iran exchange strikes
It's Sunday afternoon on Ibn Gabirol street, one of Tel Aviv's main thoroughfares, and all is quiet. Usually, this place would be crowded with people, buses and cars. But since Israel launched its deadly attacks across Iran on Friday, there have been unusual scenes in Israel's largest city. Iran's response to those Israeli attacks means Tel Aviv has not yet returned to normal. The state of emergency declared by Defence Minister Israel Katz immediately after Israel's decision to attack remains intact. Cafes, shops, schools and public transport are either shut or operating in a limited capacity. Katz's state of emergency has been accompanied by some ferocious rhetoric. 'The boastful dictator from Tehran has become a cowardly murderer who fires deliberately at the civilian home front in Israel in order to deter the IDF [Israeli army] from continuing the attack that is crumpling its capabilities,' the defence minister said. 'The residents of Tehran will pay the price, and soon.' New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters The vice rector of Tel Aviv University echoed these words, saying Israel's goal in the war should be 'the elimination of the regime in Iran'. The death toll from Iranian strikes as of Monday was 13, while Israel's attacks on Iran have killed more than 220, including 70 women and children. 'These are the most stressful moments since the war began' - Amit, Tel Aviv resident The Iranian missile attacks have caused extensive destruction throughout Israel, especially in the cities of Gush Dan, an area in central Israel that includes Tel Aviv and is home to about four million people. Israeli authorities are not allowing citizens to leave the country and go abroad – and those not in the country cannot currently return. Hundreds of Israelis have been injured in the missiles strikes, with footage showing extensive destruction to homes and the surroundings. According to The Marker, the economic branch of Haaretz, 'Israelis have stormed food stores,' since the exchange of fire between Israel and Iran began. 'There have been shortages of basic products at retailers. Throughout the country, there were reports of shortages of milk, eggs, vegetables and water bottles.' 'It's very hard to live in this country' Eitan and Amit, a young couple from Tel Aviv, have been worried since the beginning of the Iranian attacks. 'For the first time since the beginning of the war [October 2023], we went down to the shelter with the emergency kit we had prepared at the beginning of the war,' the couple told Middle East Eye. 'We saw the hits and the pictures,' Amit said of the footage of missile damage. 'These are the most stressful moments since the war began." 'Now, the citizens are in a state of shock, but within a few days people will be back in the streets' - Niv, football coach in Tel Aviv Daniel, a mother of two from Tel Aviv, drank coffee in a square that is usually more crowded. 'There is a sense of uncertainty. You don't know what will happen and you can't build a routine,' she said. "Every time there's something new,' Daniel told MEE about living in Israel. "It's a sense of survival. The missiles are like Russian roulette. It's very hard to live in this country, but I believe in the army and our people." Niv, a football coach from Tel Aviv, told Middle East Eye that as soon as the Israeli attacks on Iran were announced, he and his partner went to her mother's house outside Tel Aviv, which has a safe room. "This is a more serious war than it has been in the past and there is no protection in most buildings in Tel Aviv," he said. There are no shelters for Israel's Arab communities and Iranian missiles have showed that safe rooms in Israeli homes do not provide sufficient protection. Niv said Iran had 'managed to cause pressure so that the whole of Tel Aviv is empty… Now, the citizens are in a state of shock, but within a few days people will be back in the streets.' Deadly strikes in Bat Yam and Tamra In the early hours of Sunday, six people were killed and dozens more wounded by a missile strike in Bat Yam, a city south of Tel Aviv. In Tamra, a Palestinian town in northern Israel, four family members were killed when their home was hit. 'The destruction is really something we haven't known before. Massive destruction, like in a scene from a movie' - Tzvika Brot, mayor of Bam Yat There has been massive property damage across Israel. Shai Aharonovitch, director of the Israel Tax Authority, said in an interview with Ynet that 'it is still too early to determine the exact numbers, of course, but the damage is enormous. 'The damages are probably already several hundred million shekels, and I estimate that it reached one billion shekels ($286m) already after the bombardment so far,' Aharonovitch said. 'It's a very, very difficult morning, we were actually here at 2:30am in a scene the likes of which we haven't really seen,' said the mayor of Bat Yam, Tzvika Brot, in an interview with Radio 103FM. 'The destruction is really something we haven't known before. Massive destruction, like in a scene from a movie, you get out of the car, a main street full of dust, like the World Trade Centre disaster,' Brot added. Netanyahu in the bunker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived at the scene of the strike in Bat Yam after he was criticised for hiding in a state bunker. 'Iran will pay a very high price for the murder of women, children and innocent civilians, and it will happen soon,' Netanyahu wrote on his X account. 'We are in an existential battle, against a cruel enemy that is planning annihilation.' Hadas Klein, a key witnesses in Netanyahu's corruption trial, hit out at the government's conduct on X. 'A bunch of cowardly frails. They hide in shelters and tweet. Children are murdered, killed, dozens are missing. Ruins, destruction of entire streets,' Klein said. 'Get out to the streets, wretched leaders.' US deports two Palestinians who landed with valid visas for an interfaith mission Read More » But in Tel Aviv, a city that is considered a bastion of liberalism in Israel, not everyone is as critical of the government and its leader. "I'm dying of fear, there will be hard days here, there will be sleepless nights, but we can cope," Daniel told MEE. "I wouldn't vote for this government, but at this time I have to trust them. This is not the time to criticise the government," she added, saying Netanyahu had more important things to do than attend the site of every missile hit. Niv echoed Daniel's words. "I think Netanyahu has been performing exceptionally well so far. He is leading us to a situation where we won't have any more enemies," the football coach said. Eitan and Amit's feelings are more mixed. "A war must end with a strategic solution. We don't see that, both in Gaza and now," Eitan told MEE. "What's the goal? We bombed, and what now?" said Eitan, referring to the strategic thinking behind starting a war with Iran. "If the result is that Iran doesn't have a nuclear weapon, then the price is bearable," Niv said. "I think it's worth the price. There was no other option."
Middle East Eye
an hour ago
- Middle East Eye
US embassy in Tel Aviv damaged during Iranian missile strikes
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee reported "some minor damage" to the Tel Aviv embassy following nearby Iranian missile strikes. Huckabee confirmed no American personnel were injured in the attacks, which caused some damage through blast concussions. The US will keep its Israeli diplomatic missions closed today as a precaution.
