- By Shivangi Sharma
- Sun, 15 Jun 2025 10:48 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
US President Donald Trump reportedly blocked an Israeli plan to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, Reuters revealed on Sunday, citing two US officials. The revelation comes as Israel intensifies military strikes deep inside Iranian territory, raising fears of regional spillover.
According to a senior US administration official, Trump made it clear that the threshold for targeting Iran’s political leadership had not been met. “Have the Iranians killed an American yet? No. Until they do, we’re not even talking about going after the political leadership,” the official said. The statement underscores the cautious but calculated approach Trump maintained while supporting Israel’s security, yet avoiding direct escalation with Tehran.
The assassination plan, proposed in recent days by Israeli officials, was reportedly aimed at taking out Khamenei following Israel’s continued military operations, including airstrikes on Iran’s South Pars gas field, the largest in the world. The region remains on high alert, with vital energy infrastructure like Kharg Island and the Strait of Hormuz vulnerable to further conflict.
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Long-Range Strike And Rising Casualties
Israel confirmed it had downed an Iranian refuelling aircraft at Mashhad Airport in northeast Iran, marking the most distant strike carried out since the beginning of the current military operation. The Israeli military's precision attacks are being viewed as an aggressive step, pushing conflict beyond Iran's borders.
Meanwhile, the toll of the conflict continues to rise. Iranian media reported at least 128 deaths from Israeli strikes, with over 700 wounded. Human rights groups, however, put the death toll closer to 406. On the Israeli side, 13 have been reported dead. The mounting violence has intensified global calls for de-escalation.
Trump Calls For Diplomatic Resolution
Despite his stern warning to Iran, “If we are attacked in any way, shape or form... the full strength and might of the US armed forces will come down on you”, Trump reiterated that diplomacy remains viable. Posting on Truth Social, he wrote, “We can easily get a deal done between Iran and Israel and end this bloody conflict.”
Trump cited his past diplomatic successes, including brokering dialogue between India and Pakistan, resolving tensions between Serbia and Kosovo, and mediating a standoff over the Nile River between Egypt and Ethiopia. “I do a lot and never get credit, but that’s OK, the people understand,” he added.
When asked about the assassination veto, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined to confirm or deny the report, saying, “There are so many false reports of conversations that never happened, and I’m not going to get into that.”
