A day after officials in the United States confirmed that President Donald Trump had rejected Israeli plans to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that the fastest way to resolve this conflict is for Israel to eliminate the Ayatollah.
Prime Minister Netanyahu’s statement was made as the Israel-Iran conflict reached its fourth day, with both parties launching missiles at one another, including strikes on civilian targets. Analysts express concern that the situation has escalated beyond control, and both nations have advised their citizens to prepare for a prolonged struggle.
“It will not escalate the conflict; rather, it will bring it to an end,” Mr. Netanyahu stated during an interview with ABC News when questioned about reports indicating that US President Donald Trump had vetoed an Israeli initiative to assassinate the Supreme Leader due to fears it would exacerbate the Iran-Israel confrontation.
“The ‘forever war’ is what Iran desires, and they are pushing us to the edge of a nuclear conflict,” Mr. Netanyahu remarked, adding that “In reality, Israel’s actions are preventing this, putting an end to this aggression, and we can only achieve this by confronting the forces of evil.”
Reports indicate that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with his entire family, has been relocated to a secure site—a bunker in an undisclosed location within Iran. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are providing protection for the Supreme Leader, and as of Monday night, he remains safe, overseeing developments and issuing orders to the military.
The information regarding Donald Trump’s veto of Israel’s plan to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader was initially reported by the global news agency Reuters, which cited senior unnamed officials within the Trump Administration as confirming the details.
They indicated that the Israelis claimed they had a chance to eliminate the top Iranian leader, but President Trump dismissed the plan. The officials did not clarify whether Trump personally conveyed the message. However, the US President has maintained regular communication with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
When Netanyahu was questioned about this on Fox News on Sunday, he stated, “There are numerous false reports of conversations that never took place, and I will not delve into that,” further adding, “I can assure you, I believe that we will do what is necessary, and I think the United States understands what is best for the United States.”
