U.S. President Donald Trump recently rejected an Israeli proposal to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to two American officials cited by Reuters on 15 June 2025. The officials said Israel told Washington it had an operational window in the past few days to carry out the strike but needed U.S. approval before proceeding. One senior administration official, explaining the White House’s position, said, “Have the Iranians killed an American yet? No. Until they do we’re not even talking about going after the political leadership.” The official added that the United States is not considering direct involvement in Israel’s offensive against Iran. Asked about the report in a Fox News interview, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined to confirm or deny the account, saying only that there were “many false reports.” Separately, Israel’s National Security Council chief, Tzachi Hanegbi, called the Reuters story “not true” and insisted Iranian leaders enjoy no immunity. The disclosure, and Israel’s swift rebuttal, come amid escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran. Washington has sought to contain the conflict and avoid actions that could trigger wider regional warfare.