Israel-Iran Conflict: On Netanyahu's 'Eliminating Supreme Leader Khamenei Will End Conflict' Statement, Trump Says This
Tel Aviv/Tehran, June 17, 2025:
In a dramatic escalation of rhetoric amid the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a bold and controversial statement on Monday night, asserting that the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would be the fastest way to end the war. The remark came shortly after reports confirmed that U.S. President Donald Trump vetoed Israel’s plan to eliminate Khamenei, fearing it would lead to uncontrollable escalation in the Middle East.
“It’s not going to escalate the conflict. It’s going to end the conflict,” Netanyahu told ABC News. “The ‘forever war’ is what Iran wants, and they’re bringing us to the brink of a nuclear war. What Israel is doing is preventing this.”
The conflict, now in its fourth consecutive day, has already seen hundreds killed, cities bombarded by missiles, and both nations urging their citizens to brace for a protracted war. Analysts warn that the situation has spiraled beyond diplomatic containment.
The first report of Trump’s decision to block the Israeli assassination plan came from Reuters, citing unnamed senior U.S. officials. According to the report, Israel informed the U.S. of an “opportunity” to strike Khamenei, but Trump intervened to veto the move, fearing the assassination could ignite full-scale regional war and force a broader U.S. military commitment.
It remains unclear whether Trump directly delivered the message or if it was communicated through diplomatic channels. However, sources say he has maintained frequent communications with Netanyahu throughout the conflict.
In a separate Fox News interview on Sunday, Netanyahu was evasive:
“There are so many false reports of conversations that never happened. I’m not going to get into that. I can tell you this — we’ll do what we need to do. And I think the United States knows what is good for the United States.”
In response to the growing threat, Iran has reportedly relocated Ayatollah Khamenei and his family to a fortified underground bunker at an undisclosed location, with elite forces from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) assigned to protect him. Iranian state media reports that Khamenei is alive, safe, and continuing to direct military operations.
Iran has accused Israel of launching a “decapitation campaign” against its leadership and nuclear program, following strikes that have already claimed the lives of senior IRGC generals and top nuclear scientists.
The latest back-and-forth underscores the growing divide between U.S. and Israeli strategy. While Netanyahu advocates direct, decisive action, Trump has consistently emphasized negotiation, even while backing Israel’s right to defend itself.
With both air and missile strikes intensifying, and leaders trading life-or-death rhetoric, international observers fear the conflict may be nearing a point of no return.
Tags:
Israel Iran war, Netanyahu Khamenei assassination, Trump veto Iran strike, Ayatollah Khamenei bunker, Operation Rising Lion, US-Israel relations, IRGC security, Iran-Israel missile war, Middle East escalation, Trump Netanyahu talks
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