Missiles flew between Israel and Iran Sunday, June 15, marking the third consecutive day that the two nations have kept up their offensives. Meanwhile, Reuters reports that President Donald Trump “vetoed” an Israeli plan to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei –– a charge Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was quick to deny.
Death tolls increase
The death toll in Israel since Iran launched its offensive has increased to 13, with 10 additional deaths reported on Sunday. Israeli airstrikes in Iran have killed more than 400 people, according to The Associated Press.
Sunday’s attacks followed an opening Israeli salvo that struck Tehran’s nuclear and military installations on Friday, June 13. The continuing hostilities put on hold negotiations between Iran and the U.S. over Tehran’s nuclear program, which were supposed to enter their sixth round on Sunday.
According to the AP, Israel struck Iran’s Defense Ministry headquarters, which is located in Tehran, as well as sites allegedly associated with Iran’s nuclear program. Meanwhile, Iranian missiles were able to bypass Israel’s sophisticated Iron Dome air defense system, striking buildings “deep inside Israel.”
Israel’s death toll was confirmed by the country’s Magen David Adom rescue service. Iran is yet to comment on its casualty figures; however, the Washington-based organization, Human Rights Activists, says 406 people have been killed and 654 wounded inside Iran.
Did Trump ‘veto’ a plan to assassinate Iran’s supreme leader?
Meanwhile, on Sunday, two U.S. officials told Reuters that Trump “vetoed” an Israeli plan to assassinate Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
“Have the Iranians killed an American yet? No. Until they do we’re not even talking about going after the political leadership,” a senior U.S. administration official said. According to the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the Israelis reportedly had a chance to take out Khamenei, but Trump “waved them off the plan.”
However, Netanyahu was quick to push back on the reports. In a Sunday interview with Fox News’ “Special Report With Bret Baier,” Netanyahu said, “There are a lot of false reports about talks that never happened and I’m not going to get into that. But I can say that we will do what we have to do. And I think the United States knows what’s good for them.”
In the same interview, Netanyahu told Baier that Iran has attempted to assassinate Trump twice, saying the U.S. president is “enemy number one” on Tehran’s list.
Trump attempts to bring Israel and Iran to negotiating table
Israel confirmed Friday that it carried out airstrikes on Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility as part of a broader attack involving more than 200 fighter jets. The military said that dozens of Iranian radar sites and missile launchers were also destroyed.
In response, Tehran launched a series of strikes on Jerusalem, which injured at least 34 people. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that Iran fired fewer than 100 rockets during the attack. Israel’s Iron Dome shot down most of them, but some did strike their target.
The U.S. has reportedly been helping Israel’s defense system, but stopped short of pledging to back Israel if its assault on Iran turns into all-out war.
In a Saturday post on his social media site, Truth Social, President Donald Trump wrote, “The U.S. had nothing to do with the attack on Iran.” However, he added, “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.”
At the same time, Trump is actively attempting to bring Israel and Iran to the negotiating table. In Saturday’s post, the president wrote, “we can easily get a deal done between Iran and Israel, and end this bloody conflict!!!”
That was followed up Sunday morning with a post that read, “Iran and Israel should make a deal, and will make a deal, just like I got India and Pakistan to make,” adding, “we will have PEACE, soon, between Israel and Iran! Many calls and meetings now taking place.”
