Trump approved Iran war after Netanyahu argued Khamenei killing, sources say

Key Points:

• Less than 48 hours before the U.S.-Israeli strike on Iran, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convinced President Donald Trump to proceed with a "decapitation strike" targeting Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, citing a rare intelligence window and past assassination attempts against Trump.
• The operation, named Epic Fury, began on February 28, 2024, with joint U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran's missile and nuclear facilities, leading to Khamenei's death and significant regional escalation including Iranian counterattacks causing U.S. and civilian casualties.
• Netanyahu framed the strike as a historic opportunity to potentially overthrow Iran's theocratic regime, while Trump, despite his campaign stance against war with Iran, was persuaded by intelligence briefings and Netanyahu's arguments to authorize the attack.
• The U.S. and Israeli military cooperation intensified after protests in Iran and previous joint strikes in June 2023, with ongoing concerns about Iran's ballistic missile program and proxy forces threatening regional stability.
• Despite hopes for regime change, U.S. intelligence agencies predicted a hardliner would replace Khamenei, which occurred with his son Mojtaba assuming leadership amid continued unrest and conflict in Iran.