Fact Check: "President Donald Trump opposed an Israeli plan to assassinate Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei"
What We Know
On June 15, 2025, multiple U.S. officials reported that President Donald Trump rejected an Israeli proposal to assassinate Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to sources, Trump conveyed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that such an action was "not a good idea" (BBC, Reuters, CBS News). The conversation reportedly occurred shortly after Israel launched military actions against Iranian targets, escalating tensions in the region (BBC).
Analysis
The claim that Trump opposed the assassination plan is corroborated by several reputable news sources, including the BBC, Reuters, and CBS News, all of which cite U.S. officials familiar with the matter. These reports consistently indicate that Trump was concerned about the potential for increased regional instability and escalation of conflict should such an assassination take place (BBC, Reuters, AP News).
Israeli officials, while not directly confirming the details of Trump's rejection, indicated that they typically do not target political leaders and focus instead on military and nuclear threats (BBC). Netanyahu's comments during a Fox News interview suggested a reluctance to discuss the specifics of conversations with Trump, which adds a layer of ambiguity but does not contradict the reports of Trump's opposition to the plan.
The reliability of the sources is high, as they include established news organizations known for their journalistic standards. The reports are based on information from multiple officials, which adds credibility to the claims being made.
Conclusion
The claim that President Donald Trump opposed an Israeli plan to assassinate Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is True. This conclusion is supported by multiple credible sources that report on Trump's explicit rejection of the plan, citing concerns over potential escalation in the already volatile region.
Sources
- Trump told Israel not to kill Iran's supreme leader - BBC
- Trump vetoed an Israeli plan to kill Iran's supreme leader, US ... - Reuters
- Trump rejected Israeli plan to kill Iran's supreme leader, US official ... - AP News
- Trump vetoed Israeli plan to kill Iran's supreme leader, U.S ... - PBS
- Trump rejected Israeli plan to kill Iran's supreme leader, CBS News ...
- Trump told Israel not to kill Iran's supreme leader - POLITICO
- Trump vetoed Israeli plan to kill Iranian supreme leader - NBC New York
- Trump vetoed Israeli plan to kill Iran's supreme leader ... - Economic Times