REVEALED: How Trump rejected plot by Israel to assassinate Iranian leader Khamenei

Over the weekend, Israel had an operational window to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, but President Trump made it clear that he is against such a move, U.S. officials familiar with the development told Axios news agency.

“We communicated to the Israelis that President Trump is opposed to that. The Iranians haven’t killed an American, and discussion of killing political leaders should not be on the table”, an official said.

White House officials say Trump is still trying to prevent further escalation of the war and resume talks with Iran on a nuclear deal.

Though, at the same time, Benjamin Netanyahu who himself refused to speak about the assassination reports, told Fox News on Sunday that regime change in Iran “could certainly be the result” of Israel’s ongoing military campaign, but he did not say it was the goal and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar denied outright on Sunday that this was the goal.

“But I can tell you, I think that we do what we need to do, we’ll do what we need to do. And I think the United States knows what is good for the United States,” the premier added.

Israeli officials have said repeatedly since launching its intensive waves of airstrikes on Iran that the campaign is preemptive and was initiated to stave off the imminent, existential threat of Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon and growing its ballistic missile arsenal.

Even as the conflict escalated, administration officials made clear they were open to continuing nuclear talks with Iran hoping that, despite impossible odds, they could salvage a peaceful solution.

Sources familiar with the matter say Israel has spoken with the US about possibly increasing its level of involvement, though one Israeli official warned those conversations have not yet included “practical” discussions of the finer details.

While Trump hopes to avoid a prolonged conflict that could further destabilize the Middle East, some in the administration recognize that American military assistance may help Israel conclude its objectives more quickly, the sources said.

“We’re not involved in it. It’s possible we could get involved. But we are not at this moment involved,” Trump told ABC News on Sunday morning.

The competing interests have created a complicated dynamic for a president eager to make good on his pledge to bring peace to the world’s troubled regions.

Since Israel launched its first attack early Friday morning, the US has offered defensive support to Israel intercepting an onslaught of Iranian reprisal strikes.

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