U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly intervened to block an Israeli proposal to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to a CBS News report citing three American officials familiar with the matter.
The discussion allegedly took place after Israel began its latest military campaign against Iranian targets, including suspected nuclear facilities. Trump is said to have told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that targeting Khamenei would be a “bad idea” and could lead to uncontrollable escalation in the region.
While Trump has not commented publicly on the matter, the report has fueled intense debate within diplomatic and intelligence circles, especially as tensions between Iran and Israel reach dangerous new heights. Netanyahu, when asked about the report during an interview with Fox News, neither confirmed nor denied the conversation.
“There are so many false reports of conversations that never happened,” Netanyahu said. “We will do what is necessary to defend our people. The U.S. knows what’s in its best interest. I’ll leave it at that.”
An Israeli official, speaking anonymously to CBS, clarified that while Israel has historically avoided targeting political leaders, it considers individuals involved in advancing Iran’s nuclear program as legitimate military targets.
The conflict between Israel and Iran has intensified since Israel launched a large-scale air campaign on Friday, striking key Iranian infrastructure. In response, Iran has fired dozens of missiles and drones at Israeli territory. The conflict has now entered its third consecutive day, drawing widespread concern from the international community.
Amid the rising violence, Trump took to Truth Social to call for de-escalation. “Iran and Israel should make a deal,” he wrote. “Just like I got India and Pakistan to calm down, I can do the same here.”
Trump has also maintained that the U.S. was not involved in Israel’s initial strike on Iran. However, he issued a stark warning: “If Iran attacks us in any way, shape, or form, the full strength of the U.S. Armed Forces will come down on them like never before.”
Hopes for diplomacy dimmed further on Saturday, as Oman’s foreign minister Badr Albusaidi announced the cancellation of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks originally scheduled for Sunday. According to Reuters, Iran informed mediators in Qatar and Oman that it would not discuss a ceasefire while under active Israeli assault.
With both sides trading heavy blows and diplomacy sidelined, fears of a broader regional war continue to grow. The international community now watches anxiously, as what began as a shadow conflict risks becoming an all-out confrontation.