Eric Patrick
United States President Donald Trump stopped an Israeli plan to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a senior U.S. official told journalists on Sunday.
“We found out that the Israelis had plans to hit Iran’s supreme leader. President Trump was against it and we told the Israelis not to.
Earlier Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dodged a question about reports that Trump had asked his country not to kill Khamenei.
“I’m not going to get into that.”
“But I can tell you,… we’ll do what we need to do, and I think the United States knows what is good for the United States,” he said.
Israel and Iran exchanged heavy missile fire on Sunday, prompting air raid sirens and loud explosions across Jerusalem, while air defense systems were reportedly activated in Tehran.
Authorities had urged residents in both capitals to seek shelter amid rising fears of a broader regional war.
The unprecedented direct confrontation follows decades of hostility and a long-running shadow war fought through proxies and covert operations.
This latest escalation marks the most intense exchange of fire between the two nations, raising concerns that the conflict could spiral into a full-scale war engulfing the Middle East.
The current round of violence was triggered Friday when Israeli forces launched a series of strikes across Iran, targeting senior military commanders, nuclear scientists, strategic bases, and residential areas.
READ ALSO: Iran Strikes: Explosions Rock Tel Aviv in Major Missile Attack on Israel
Iranian casualties reportedly include high-ranking officials.
On Sunday, as Israeli jets continued targeting sites across Iran, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Tehran would “pay a heavy price” for the killing of Israeli civilians.
In an interview with Fox News, Netanyahu hinted that Israel was behind the assassination of Iran’s intelligence chief Mohammad Kazemi and his deputy during air raids over Tehran.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump, speaking to newsmen on Sunday, reiterated that the United States was not involved in Israel’s military campaign, saying, “We had nothing to do with it.”
However, he warned that the U.S. would respond forcefully if Iran targeted American interests, threatening to unleash “the full strength and might” of the U.S. military.
Trump also called on both sides to seek a peaceful resolution, suggesting he would be open to Russian President Vladimir Putin acting as a mediator.
While emphasising that the U.S. was “not at this moment” involved militarily, he acknowledged, “It’s possible we could get involved.”