President Donald Trump just threw a major wrench into an audacious Israeli plan to take out Iran’s top leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, showing once again he’s not afraid to push back against even close allies when the stakes are sky-high.
Breitbart reported that Trump intervened to stop Israel from assassinating Khamenei, while ongoing military strikes and diplomatic efforts between the U.S., Israel, and Iran continue to unfold in a volatile Middle East chess game.
Let’s rewind a bit to set the stage: Two months back, Trump issued a firm 60-day ultimatum to Iran via Truth Social, pressing them to strike a deal on their nuclear ambitions or face consequences.
“I gave Iran chance after chance to make a deal,” Trump declared on Truth Social, reflecting his frustration as day 61 rolled around with no agreement in sight.
That tough talk wasn’t just for show; it underscored Trump’s no-nonsense approach to Iran’s nuclear program, though it’s clear he’s playing a long game rather than rushing to all-out conflict.
Fast forward to a critical Thursday, when Trump publicly cautioned Israel against striking Iran, suggesting an attack could complicate potential U.S.-Iran talks, though he slyly noted it might also “help” in some unspecified way.
By early Friday morning, Israel ignored the caution and launched preemptive airstrikes on Iranian military, nuclear, and refinery targets, as well as leadership sites, escalating the already simmering feud.
Iran didn’t sit idly by; that same Friday, they fired a barrage of missiles at Tel Aviv, a direct counterpunch that lit up the skies and raised the temperature of this regional standoff.
Just a day later, on Saturday, Iran struck again, targeting Tamra, an Arab Muslim town east of Haifa, showing their willingness to keep the pressure on Israel’s broader sphere.
Amid this flurry of strikes, Israel saw an opening to eliminate Khamenei himself and pitched the idea to U.S. officials, only to have Trump shut it down cold, according to two anonymous administration sources.
“Have the Iranians killed an American yet? No,” a senior Trump official told Reuters, signaling a clear line: political leadership isn’t a target unless American lives are directly at stake.
That restraint speaks volumes about Trump’s calculus—why risk a geopolitical earthquake when the current fight hasn’t crossed that critical threshold? It’s a pragmatic stance, even if it frustrates war hawks itching to dismantle Iran’s regime.
On Saturday, Trump doubled down on de-escalation, revealing a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin where both agreed the Israel-Iran conflict needs to end pronto.
By Sunday, Trump was back on Truth Social, optimistically declaring, “We will have PEACE, soon, between Israel and Iran,” while hinting at numerous calls and meetings behind the scenes to make it happen.
That’s classic Trump—balancing fiery rhetoric with a push for deals, though skeptics might wonder if Iran’s hardliners are even listening, especially after Trump’s earlier post taunting, “Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left.”
Still, it’s a refreshing pivot away from the endless war drumbeat we often hear from D.C. elites who seem allergic to practical solutions.