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Trump vetoed Israeli plan to kill Iran’s supreme leader, US officials say
Israelis reportedly had opportunity to kill Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, but Trump waved them off the plan
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US President Donald Trump vetoed an Israeli plan in recent days to kill Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, two US officials told Reuters on Sunday.
“Have the Iranians killed an American yet? No. Until they do we’re not even talking about going after the political leadership,” said one of the sources, a senior US administration official.
The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said top US officials have been in constant communications with Israeli officials in the days since Israel launched a massive attack on Iran in a bid to halt its nuclear programme. Israel’s attacks have killed several top generals and nuclear scientists.
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They said the Israelis reported that they had an opportunity to kill the top Iranian leader, but Trump waved them off the plan.
The officials would not say whether Trump himself delivered the message. But Trump has been in frequent communications with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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