Trump reportedly vetoed Israeli plan to assassinate Iran’s Khamenei

President Donald Trump reportedly blocked a covert Israeli plan to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to two American officials cited in a Reuters report on Friday.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the veto was issued “within the last two days,” halting what they described as an advanced plan by Israeli intelligence to eliminate Khamenei amid rising regional tensions and ongoing military operations targeting Iranian nuclear infrastructure.

Neither the Israeli government nor the White House has officially confirmed the existence of such a plan or the reported veto. The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office declined to comment, while U.S. National Security Council spokespeople have not yet addressed the report publicly.

The disclosure comes just days after a series of Israeli airstrikes targeted Iranian facilities in Isfahan and Natanz, reportedly damaging components of Tehran’s nuclear program. Those attacks marked a significant escalation in the long-running shadow war between the two countries.

According to military analysts, a direct strike against Khamenei would have been unprecedented and likely sparked a regional or global crisis. While the U.S. has supported Israeli operations targeting military and nuclear assets, a targeted assassination of a sitting head of state—especially one with powerful allies like Russia and China—would cross a major international threshold.

The timing of the alleged veto also coincides with ongoing indirect diplomatic overtures between Iran and Western nations, including through intermediaries in Oman and Qatar. Iran’s foreign ministry has recently stated it would be open to renewed talks if hostilities cease, though Tehran continues to deny pursuing nuclear weapons.

If confirmed, Trump’s veto could signal a U.S. desire to contain the conflict while maintaining pressure on Iran through sanctions and tactical military cooperation with Israel. It may also indicate internal debate within the U.S. administration over the scope and legality of Israel’s military strategies.

The report remains unconfirmed by official sources. Additional details are expected to emerge as diplomatic and military developments continue across the region.