Trump blocked plan to kill Iran's supreme leader, reports say

Death toll climbs as Israel and Iran exchange attacks

The death toll continues to rise amid fierce missile attacks between Israel and Iran, with major cities hit and airspace closed. Benjamin Allison, Graduate Fellow at the Clements Center for National Security, joins LiveNOW from FOX’s Carel Lajara to discuss the geopolitical fallout, risks of wider conflict, and the collapse of nuclear diplomacy.

President Donald Trump blocked Israel’s plan to kill Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a U.S. official told The Associated Press. 

News of the thwarted assassination plot comes as the Trump administration is desperate to keep Israel’s military operation aimed at decapitating Iran’s nuclear program from exploding into all-out war. 

Israel planned to kill Iran’s supreme leader

What we know:

Officials said Israel had a credible plan to kill Khamenei, but the White House made clear that Trump was opposed to the move.

The president saw the plan to kill Khamenei as a move that would inflame the conflict and potentially destabilize the region.

What we don't know:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office declined to comment on the reports.

U.S. President Donald Trump greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he arrives at the White House on April 07, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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The backstory:

Israel has targeted Iran’s Defense Ministry headquarters in Tehran and sites it alleged were associated with Iran’s nuclear program, while Iranian missiles have evaded Israeli air defenses and slammed into buildings deep inside Israel.

RELATED: Iran retaliates against Israel, raising fears of all-out war

What they're saying:

Netanyahu was asked about the plan on Fox News Sunday, but he did not directly address whether the White House rejected the plan.

"But I can tell you, I think that we do what we need to do, we’ll do what we need to do. And I think the United States knows what is good for the United States," Netanyahu said.

Trump warns Iran against striking US targets

Dig deeper:

Trump issued a stark warning to Iran against retaliating on U.S. targets in the Middle East. He also predicted that Israel and Iran will make a deal "soon" to end their escalating conflict.

In a post on Truth Social Sunday, Trump said the United States "had nothing to do with the attack on Iran" as Israel and Iran traded missile attacks for the third straight day. 

Israel Defense Forces confirms ongoing strikes in Iran

Missile exchanges between Israel and Iran have intensified for a third straight day, leaving dozens dead and escalating fears of a prolonged war. Israel struck Iran’s defense and nuclear facilities, while Iranian missiles hit targets deep inside Israeli cities, killing civilians and damaging infrastructure. National security analyst, Hal Kempfer joins LiveNOW from FOX's Carel Lajara to discuss the latest.

"If we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the U.S. Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before," Trump said.

"We will have PEACE, soon, between Israel and Iran!" Trump also wrote on Truth Social. "Many calls and meetings now taking place. I do a lot, and never get credit for anything, but that’s OK, the PEOPLE understand. MAKE THE MIDDLE EAST GREAT AGAIN!"

The other side: Iran has said that it would hold the U.S.—which has provided Israel with much of its deep arsenal of weaponry— accountable for its backing of Israel.

What's next:

Trump is set to travel later Sunday to Canada for Group of Seven leaders summit where the Mideast crisis will loom large over his talks with the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan and the European Union.