WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� President rejected a plan presented by Israel to the U.S. to kill Iran鈥檚 Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter.
The Israelis informed the Trump administration in recent days that they had developed a credible plan to kill Khamenei.
After being briefed on the plan, the White House made clear to Israeli officials that Trump was opposed to the Israelis making the move, according to the official, who was not authorized to comment on the sensitive matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
The Trump administration is desperate to keep Israel鈥檚 military operation Iran鈥檚 nuclear program from exploding into an even more expansive conflict and saw the plan to kill Khamenei as a move that would enflame the conflict and potentially destabilize the region.
Asked about the plan during an interview on Fox News Channel鈥檚 鈥淪pecial Report with Bret Baier," Israeli Prime Minister did not directly address whether the White House rejected the plan.
鈥淏ut I can tell you, I think that we do what we need to do, we鈥檒l do what we need to do," Netanyahu said. 鈥淎nd I think the United States knows what is good for the United States.鈥�
Netanyahu spokesperson Omer Dostri later called reports about the Israeli plan to kill Khamenei 鈥渇ake.鈥�
Netanyahu in the Fox interview also said regime change 鈥渃ould certainly be the result鈥� of the conflict 鈥渂ecause the Iranian regime is very weak.鈥�
Trump's rejection of the proposal was first reported by Reuters.
Meanwhile, Trump on Sunday issued a stark warning to Iran not to retaliate against U.S. targets in the Middle East.
Trump in an early morning social media posting said the United States 鈥渉ad nothing to do with the attack on Iran鈥� as for the third straight day. Iran, however, has said it would hold the U.S. 鈥� which has provided Israel with much of its deep arsenal of weaponry 鈥� responsible for its backing of Israel.
鈥淚f 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,鈥� Trump said.
Hours later Trump took to social media again to predict 鈥淚ran and Israel should make a deal, and will make a deal" and that it could come 鈥渟oon.鈥�
But as he departed the White House on Sunday evening for the in the Canadian Rockies, Trump was more tempered in comments to reporters about when the Israeli strikes and Iranian retaliation would wind down.
鈥淚 hope there is going to be a deal, and we鈥檒l see what happens, but sometimes they have to fight it out,鈥� Trump said.
The conflict is expected to loom large during his talks with the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the European Union.
The U.S. president said he has a track record for de-escalating conflicts, and that he would get Israel and Iran to cease hostilities 鈥渏ust like I got India and Pakistan to" after the two countries' recent cross-border confrontation.
India struck targets inside Pakistan after militants in April in Indian-controlled Kashmir. Pakistan has denied any links to the attackers. Following India鈥檚 strikes in Pakistan, the two sides exchanged heavy fire along their de facto borders, followed by missile and drone strikes into each other鈥檚 territories, .
It was the most serious confrontation in decades between the countries. Trump on Sunday repeated his claim, , that the two sides agreed to a ceasefire after he had offered to help both nations with trade if they agreed to de-escalate.
Trump also pointed to efforts by his administration during his first term to mediate disputes between Serbia and Kosovo and Egypt and Ethiopia.
鈥淟ikewise, we will have PEACE, soon, between Israel and Iran!鈥� Trump posted. 鈥淢any calls and meetings now taking place. I do a lot, and never get credit for anything, but that鈥檚 OK, the PEOPLE understand. MAKE THE MIDDLE EAST GREAT AGAIN!鈥�
There's a divide in Trump world about how far the president should go in backing Israel.
Rep. , R-Ga., Turning Point USA founder and former Fox News host are among the prominent backers of Trump who have argued that voters supported Trump because he would not involve the nation in foreign conflicts.
GOP Kentucky Sen. praised Trump for having shown restraint and said he hoped the president's 鈥渋nstincts will prevail.鈥�
鈥淪o, I think it鈥檚 going to be very hard to come out of this and have a negotiated settlement,鈥� Paul told NBC's 鈥淢eet the Press." 鈥滻 see more war and more carnage. And it鈥檚 not the U.S.鈥檚 job to be involved in this war.鈥�
In an interview on CBS鈥� 鈥淔ace the Nation,鈥� GOP South Carolina Sen. said he preferred diplomatic efforts, but if diplomacy doesn鈥檛 work Trump should 鈥済o all in鈥� on destroying Iran's nuclear program.
鈥淚f that means providing bombs, provide bombs,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f that means flying with Israel, fly with Israel.鈥�
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Associated Press writer Gary Fields contributed reporting.
Aamer Madhani, The Associated Press
