Netanyahu told Trump that the US and Israel had a rare opportunity to eliminate Khamenei and avenge past Iranian attempts on Trump's life. According to Reuters, the Trump administration had already approved a military operation against Iran, but the timing and scope were still under consideration when Netanyahu placed the call. According to reports, intelligence showing a narrowing window to target Iran's leadership, combined with Netanyahu's push, helped shape the final call. From planning to executionThe first strikes were launched on February 28, with Trump later announcing that Khamenei had been killed. Trump has also maintained that the decision to strike Iran was ultimately his own.

Source: dna March 24, 2026 03:59 UTC