US Vetoed Israeli Plan to Kill Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
As the situation continues to unfold, the US is assisting Israel with defense, deploying THAAD systems and a US Navy destroyer to help shoot down incoming missiles, with Iran firing over 280 ballistic missiles at Israel in several barrages since the operation began. The Israeli military estimates that Iran's ballistic missiles carry 1,100-lb warheads, similar to those fired in 2024.
US President Donald Trump rejected an Israeli proposal to assassinate Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to two sources, as the conflict between Israel and Iran continues to escalate. The US communicated to Israel that Trump opposed the plan, and it was not executed, with the administration open to continuing nuclear talks with Iran.
The Israeli operation against Iran is expected to take "weeks, not days" and is moving forward with implicit US approval, despite Trump's warnings against launching an attack on Iran ahead of the strikes. American military planners have prepared options for joint US-Israeli actions against Iranian facilities, but there is little indication that Trump has approved such options. The administration is aware and implicitly supportive of Israel's plans, but has stopped short of joining Israel's military in its attempts to take out Iran's nuclear facilities.
The conflict has resulted in significant damage and casualties, with at least 150 people killed and hundreds injured, according to Iran's state media. Iranian residents are evacuating the capital, Tehran, as Israeli bombardment intensifies, with the Iranian foreign ministry building damaged and several civilians injured. Israel has expanded its targets in Iran, including oil depots, missile sites, and nuclear infrastructure.
The US role in the conflict has largely been defensive, with the US offering defensive support to Israel, intercepting an onslaught of Iranian reprisal strikes. The US has confirmed that US-Iran nuclear talks scheduled for Sunday have been canceled due to the ongoing attacks between Israel and Iran, with the situation continuing to escalate and the potential for further violence remaining high.