Intelligence officials warned against assassinating Ali Khamenei

Reports from the Wall Street Journal indicate that a former Director of National Intelligence had warned the Trump administration against the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The warning suggested that such an action would not topple the regime in Tehran and could instead result in a more hardline leadership succeeding him.

Khamenei was killed on February 28, 2026, following joint airstrikes by Israel and the United States targeting his headquarters in Tehran. Following the strikes, the White House stated that military and nuclear facilities in Iran had been destroyed.

The U.S. administration is currently pursuing an economic strategy to isolate Iran. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the objective is to sever Iran's financial links with the world through an operation targeting five vital sectors of the Iranian economy.