U.S. Navigates Israel-Iran Conflict: Trump Rejects Assassination Plan, Pushes for Diplomacy Amid Rising Tensions

 

June 17, 2025, 07:50 PM IST — With Israel-Iran war in its fifth day, the United States finds itself in the middle of a fine diplomatic balancing act. President Donald Trump has strongly opposed escalating the already volatile situation, rejecting an Israeli plea to assassinate Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei while emphasizing diplomacy to resolve the crisis. While the Middle East balances on the brink of an expanding conflict, Trump's administration has played a limited role, providing defensive assistance to Israel in stopping Iranian missiles but not otherwise intervening directly. The response from America is one of restraint, aiming not to destabilize further while keeping its fingers crossed for the prospect of a nuclear deal with Iran. But with increasing escalation, worries about how long the restraint can last are mounting.

Trump Rejects Assassination Scheme, Suggests Diplomacy

The most significant news in the US response was when Trump vetoed an Israeli assassination scheme against Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader and strongest figure. Israel came to the U.S. in recent days with the proposal, reporting that it had a moment of opportunity to assassinate Khamenei, something they believed would decisively destroy Iran's regime. The White House welcomed the proposal with immediate dismissal, with Trump informing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that this was "not a good idea." A senior U.S. official explained the logic: "Have the Iranians killed an American yet? No.". Until they do, we’re not even talking about going after the political leadership.” The administration viewed the assassination as a dangerous escalation that could inflame the conflict and potentially drag the U.S. into a full-scale regional war.

Trump’s rejection of the plan aligns with his broader strategy of de-escalation. Since the war began on June 13, 2025, with Israel's preemptive strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites, Trump has publicly and personally appealed for a diplomatic resolution. On June 16, he called on Iran and Israel to "make a deal" in a message on Truth Social, drawing upon earlier claims that he had brokered peace between India and Pakistan. I do a great deal, and never get credit for doing anything, but that's okay, the PEOPLE know. MAKE THE MIDDLE EAST GREAT AGAIN! " he tweeted, hoping to avoid another lengthy war in the Middle East.

Trump has consistently expressed a desire to have Iran back to the negotiating table to have its nuclear ambitions contained, a policy that has been the cornerstone of his Middle East policy since he took office. But the planned nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran on June 15 in Oman were canceled as the hostilities intensified. However, Trump has continued with diplomacy, calling for Vice President JD Vance and his Middle East representative Steve Witkoff to extend an offer to meet Iranian officials. At the G7 summit in Canada, where Trump had left early to address the crisis, he told reporters, "Iran basically is at the negotiating table," and said that he believed an agreement was still possible to stop Iran from getting nuclear weapons.

This optimism is despite Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi blaming Netanyahu for jeopardizing potential nuclear talks by initiating the attacks, where this allegation proves the two sides' unprecedented distrust.

Defensive Support Amid Limited Involvement While Trump has avoided demands to participate in Israel's offensive operations, America has provided crucial defensive assistance. Since Iran began retaliating with rocket and drone attacks on Israeli towns like Tel Aviv and Haifa, the American military has assisted in intercepting Iranian projectiles. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that American forces had intercepted missiles, a move that was most likely to prevent casualties and minimize damage in Israel. Iranian missile bombardments on June 15 murdered at least 13 Israelis and injured over 370, with extensive damage being observed in residential areas like Ramat Gan and Bat Yam.

The intervention of the U.S. in interception operations is a testament to its commitment towards Israel's security, even though it has not taken a direct role within the offensive campaign against Iran. Worth mentioning, Israel received no American military aid for the initial June 13 strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, military command centers, and civilian infrastructure, including the Natanz uranium enrichment plant and the Shahr Rey oil refinery. Israel's "Nation of Lions" operation was undertaken unilaterally, an aspect highlighted by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

“We are not involved in strikes against Iran, and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,” Rubio stated on June 13. The decision to limit involvement reflects Trump’s campaign promise to avoid new wars in the Middle East, a stark contrast to the more hawkish elements within his party who have urged him to “go all in” on destroying Iran’s nuclear program, as suggested by Senator Lindsey Graham on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” Behind the scenes, the U.S. had secretly prepared for the war. During the months leading up to the Israeli attacks, U.S. European Command diverted P-8 Poseidon sea patrol and reconnaissance aircraft to the Middle East to monitor the situation, indicating the administration was aware of the plans by Israel. Trump himself confirmed this, reporting in an interview with Reuters on June 14, "We knew everything" regarding the Israeli attacks. Despite this advance notice, the White House refused to intervene, accepting Israel's insistence on undermining Iran's nuclear capability.

This guarded backing has allowed the U.S. to maintain its relationship with Israel without invoking the political and military risks of more involvement.

A New Approach by Trump? Trump's handling of the Israel-Iran conflict is a departure from his first term, when he often left it to Netanyahu to make suggestions. Trump pundits opine that the president has kept the Israeli leader at arm's length this time, opting for diplomacy rather than armed might. The shift could be dictated by his less hawkish cabinet, purportedly, and by his MAGA supporters, which have been vocal about America's "ironclad" support for Israel and refusal to be drawn into another Middle East war.

Trump's reluctance to escalate is also shaped by domestic politics—he campaigned on ending wars, not starting them, and a long war could ruin his reputation as a dealmaker. But Trump has not ruled out U.S. action if things deteriorate further. In a June 16 interview at the G7 summit, he confessed, "It's possible we could get involved," that is, if Iran were to attack U.S. interests in the area. Iran has issued a threat to destroy American, British, and French military bases if they disrupt the counterattacks on Israel, which has heightened tensions. Trump issued a forceful threat on Truth Social, stating, "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." The words depict the fine balancing act that Trump is walking—urging peace but demonstrating potency to deter Iranian aggression.

Regional and World Implications The U.S. reaction has gigantic Middle East and broader regional consequences. By resisting the assassination of Khamenei, Trump might have prevented a catastrophic escalation that might have drawn Iran's allies, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and militias in Iraq and Syria. But the ongoing tit-for-tat retaliations between Israel and Iran—Israel bombing Iranian military and nuclear facilities, Iran launching over 200 missiles against Israel since June 13—betray no letup.

Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi has also suggested that a single phone call from Trump to Netanyahu would suffice to bring Israel's aggression to an end and open the door to diplomacy, but Netanyahu remained firm, declaring that Israel will not go back until Iran's nuclear development, missile factories, and "terror axis" are all dismantled. The war has already had an international economic impact, as oil prices surged to $73.85 a barrel for U.S. oil and $75 for Brent crude because of the uncertainty of the disrupted Middle Eastern supply. The closure of the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem and consular facilities in Tel Aviv on June 17, advising American citizens depart Israel by land crossing to Jordan, reflects the gravity of the crisis.

While the G7 summit in Canada, snowed under by the war, saw leaders issue a joint statement calling for a ceasefire and UN-brokered negotiations, Trump's hasty departure was a signal of his desire to exercise control over the situation himself.

Challenges Ahead: Can Diplomacy Prevail? There are giant challenges ahead for the U.S. in how to get through this crisis. Trump's diplomatic push is compounded by the deep-seated suspicion between Iran and Israel and pressures domestically upon both leaders. Ayatollah Khamenei has promised a "severe retaliation" in Iran for the Israeli attacks that have killed at least 224 individuals, including civilians, and struck critical infrastructure. The killing of senior IRGC commanders Hossein Salami and Ali Shadmani has only strengthened Iran's resolve.

In Israel, there is also public pressure on Netanyahu to continue the campaign as 24 civilians are killed and widespread damage inflicted by Iranian missiles push demands for a firm action. Moreover, the U.S. also has to manage its own strategic interests. While Trump is eager to keep Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, other experts perceive that Israel's airstrikes will push Iran toward having a bomb since the regime's vulnerability with no nuclear umbrella is highlighted. Iran's Foreign Minister has likewise signaled that he is open to restarting nuclear talks, but only if Israel ceases its aggression—a proposition now in question following Netanyahu's objectives.

The postponement of the Oman talks and Iran's alleged consideration of exiting the nuclear non-proliferation treaty further complicate the path towards an agreement. With the war on, what America does will be watched closely. Trump's denial of the assassination plot and his insistence on diplomatic approaches have produced some breathing room, but things are not exactly stable yet. The Middle East balances on the edge of a wider war, and the American role—either that of peacemaker or reluctant player—will be instrumental in determining the fate of the region.Trump's administration is currently establishing a line in the sand, but can diplomacy really succeed where such entrenched hatred exists?