On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump revealed that his administration is aware of the whereabouts of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, describing him as an "easy target." However, Trump ruled out the option of assassinating him, "at least for now." "We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding. He's an easy target, but he's safe there. We won't take him out (kill him!), at least not at the moment," Trump posted on his official Truth Social account.
The Republican president also issued a stern warning against any attacks on American civilians or troops, hinting at a potential hardening of his stance: "Our patience is running thin. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" In another message, he demanded "unconditional surrender," escalating the rhetoric amid heightened tensions in the Middle East.
Trump's comments come in the wake of a new surge in conflict between Iran and Israel, ignited last Friday when the Israeli government launched a series of airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and military targets. Since then, both nations have exchanged attacks, resulting in a tragic toll: over 200 deaths in Iran, including civilians, and 24 casualties in Israel due to Iranian missiles.
Although the White House has denied direct involvement in the Israeli airstrikes, Trump suggested that they may have been triggered by the expiration of a deadline given to Tehran to finalize a new nuclear agreement. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Monday that his government "will do whatever is necessary" when asked about the possibility of assassinating Ayatollah Khamenei.
Some reports indicate that Trump previously dismissed an Israeli plan to eliminate the Iranian leader, fearing an uncontrollable regional escalation. Trump made an abrupt return to Washington early this morning after leaving the G7 summit in Canada to meet with his National Security team.
In this context, he asserted that the United States has "complete control over the skies of Iran" due to a more advanced aerial tracking network than that of the Persian country. "We now have total control over Iran's skies. Iran had good aerial trackers and other defensive equipment in abundance, but they don't compare to those made in the United States," he added.
In the same message, he concluded: "Nobody does it better than the United States," reinforcing his recurring narrative of national supremacy, particularly in defense and security matters.
Understanding the U.S. and Iran Tensions
Why did Trump rule out assassinating Iran's Supreme Leader?
Trump stated that while the Supreme Leader is an "easy target," he is currently safe, and the decision to assassinate him has been ruled out for now.
What triggered the recent escalation between Iran and Israel?
The escalation began when Israel launched airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and military targets, leading to retaliatory attacks between the two nations.
Has the U.S. been involved in the Israeli airstrikes?
The White House has denied direct involvement in the Israeli airstrikes, although Trump hinted they could be related to a nuclear agreement deadline with Iran.