As tensions between Israel and Iran reach new and dangerous heights, former U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly intervened behind the scenes to prevent an Israeli assassination attempt on Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to two U.S. officials quoted by Reuters, Trump vetoed the plan despite increasing coordination between Israeli and American officials in the wake of Operation Rising Lion — a large-scale Israeli offensive targeting Iran’s nuclear and military assets.
A senior U.S. official explained Trump’s position candidly: “Have the Iranians killed an American yet? No. Until they do, we’re not even talking about going after the political leadership.” While it remains unclear whether Trump personally conveyed the decision, sources confirmed he was in regular contact with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during this period.
Netanyahu, in a Fox News interview, dismissed the report as speculative, stating only that Israel “will do what we need to do.” The Israeli leader’s posture, however, has grown increasingly aggressive, with airstrikes escalating across Iran and deep into strategic installations including the South Pars gas field and the defence ministry in Tehran.
The violence has spiralled on both sides. Iran retaliated with more than 200 ballistic missiles and drones. Israeli authorities confirmed multiple civilian casualties, including a deadly strike on a Galilee apartment complex. Meanwhile, in Tehran, a missile attack killed at least 60 civilians, including 29 children.
Amid this unfolding crisis, Trump took to Truth Social, asserting that peace between Israel and Iran was “coming soon.” He referenced previous instances where he claimed to have de-escalated geopolitical conflicts — notably citing Serbia-Kosovo and Egypt-Ethiopia. He also repeated a long-debunked claim that he brokered peace between India and Pakistan following a military flare-up. In reality, that ceasefire came via sustained diplomatic engagement, not unilateral U.S. intervention.
Trump’s remarks underscore his interest in framing himself as a peacemaker in a volatile global environment, even as his actions — such as vetoing high-risk Israeli plans — suggest a more calculated approach to conflict management.
With fresh diplomatic overtures postponed and U.S.-Iran talks in Oman canceled, the window for diplomacy is narrowing. India, participating in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, has refrained from condemning Israel outright, instead calling for “dialogue and diplomacy” — a stance reflecting its complex balancing act in the region.
As the world watches the Israel-Iran conflict dangerously expand, Trump’s involvement is again drawing attention — not for bluster alone, but for moments of restraint that could yet shape the trajectory of a war teetering on the brink of regional explosion.
