US considering killing Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei, his son: Axios
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- Axios reports the United States has reviewed options to target Iran’s supreme leadership while also probing limited nuclear concessions.
- Officials stress no final decision has been made as Washington balances coercion with diplomacy.
The United States is weighing the possibility of assassinating Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and his son Mojtaba, according to Axios, citing sources familiar with internal deliberations.
Read more: Iran's supreme leader urges Iranians to show 'resolve' against foreign pressure
The report says the administration of Donald Trump has been presented with military options that include directly targeting Iran’s top leadership, even as it explores a narrow diplomatic opening with Tehran.
“Token” enrichment proposal
Axios reported that Washington is “prepared to consider a proposal that allows Iran ‘token’ nuclear enrichment if it leaves no possible path to a bomb,” signaling what sources described as a modest chance for a negotiated arrangement.
Such an approach would mark a significant departure from maximalist demands for zero enrichment, reflecting internal debate over how to contain Iran’s nuclear program without triggering a wider regional war.
Direct threat to leadership discussed
At the same time, advisers have outlined far more aggressive scenarios. One adviser told Axios that a military option discussed with the president would involve “taking out the ayatollah and his son and the mullahs,” referring to Khamenei and Mojtaba Khamenei, who is widely viewed as a potential successor.
Read more: US-backed proposal must make Iran nuclear bomb impossible: Axios
The report underscores the stark contrast between diplomatic exploration and overt regime-targeting proposals now circulating within US policy circles.
No final decision
Sources emphasized that no final decision has been made on further US actions against Iran. Deliberations remain fluid as Washington assesses risks, potential retaliation, and the broader impact on regional stability and global security.
The disclosures highlight a moment of acute tension in US-Iran relations, where the line between negotiation and escalation appears increasingly thin.
