Washington, D.C. [US], June 16 (ANI): Former U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly opposed an Israeli plan to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, amid heightened tensions and ongoing retaliatory strikes between Israel and Iran, according to a CNN report.
Over the weekend, a senior U.S. official told CNN that Israeli intelligence had an opportunity to eliminate Khamenei. However, upon being informed, the Trump administration conveyed its disapproval, and the plan was ultimately not carried out. The official cited Trump’s desire to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East and avoid entanglement in a new regional conflict, particularly with the shifting political landscape in the Republican Party.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, responding to questions about the report, dismissed the claims. “There are so many false reports of conversations that never happened, and I’m not going to get into that,” Netanyahu said on Sunday. A spokesperson for the Prime Minister further labeled the CNN story as “FAKE.”
Despite the backdrop of escalating hostilities, U.S. officials reiterated their willingness to continue nuclear negotiations with Iran, hoping for a diplomatic resolution. Sources familiar with the matter noted that Israel has had discussions with the U.S. regarding a potentially expanded American role in the conflict, though those talks have not yet reached the stage of detailed planning.
Trump, in a statement to CNN, affirmed, “We’re not involved in it. It’s possible we could get involved. But we are not at this moment involved.” Since Israel’s initial strike against Iranian assets, the U.S. has limited its role to defensive support, assisting in intercepting Iranian retaliatory attacks.
Nevertheless, Trump has refrained from committing U.S. forces to support Israel’s military campaign against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, resisting pressure from some Republican leaders who advocate for stronger U.S. intervention.
CNN’s reporting frames Trump’s actions as part of a broader effort to position himself as a global peacemaker. His approach to international crises, including the Russia-Ukraine war and escalating Middle East tensions, reflects a preference for restraint and diplomatic resolution over direct military involvement. (ANI)
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