In a major geopolitical twist, that could hinge the fate of the Middle East, US President Donald Trump has been presented with military options that include the possible targeted killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his son Mojtaba Khamenei, said a report by Axios.
As per reports, a senior Trump advisor said one of the scenarios discussed would ‘take out the ayatollah and his son and the mullahs,’ speaking of Khamenei and his son Mojtaba, who is widely seen as the heir apparent to his father.”
The advisor however stressed that no final decision has been made and added, “The President hasn’t decided to strike yet. I know that because we haven’t struck. He might never do it.”
“He might wake up tomorrow and say, ‘That’s it,’” he said, highlighting the uncertainty in the ongoing deliberations.
According to the report, the US Defence Department has presented multiple military options to Trump.
“They have something for every scenario. It remains unclear what action the President will take. What the President chooses no one knows. I don’t think he knows,” the advisor said.
A second source confirmed that a plan involving the killing of Khamenei and his son was shown to Trump several weeks ago, showing that such a measure has been under consideration for some time, reported India Today.
Another senior advisor said Trump is deliberately keeping his strategy ambiguous. “Trump is keeping his options open. He could decide on an attack at any moment,” the official said.
Responding to media speculation, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly declined to comment on specific military plans. “The media may continue to speculate on the President’s thinking all they want, but only President Trump knows what he may or may not do,” she said.
Any direct strike on Iran’s top leadership would be a major escalation and could have serious consequences for stability in the Middle East.
Trump Pushes Iran to Make Deal, Then Issues Warning
On Thursday, Trump intensified his warning to Iran, saying Tehran must agree to a meaningful nuclear deal or “bad things will happen,” even as indirect talks continue in Geneva, Switzerland, to reduce tensions.
US and Iranian officials are holding backchannel negotiations to ease the deepening nuclear standoff. Washington is pressing Tehran to dismantle or significantly reduce its nuclear program, arguing that Iran’s enrichment activities and growing stockpiles pose a proliferation risk. Iran denies pursuing nuclear weapons, says its program is for civilian purposes, and maintains that enrichment is its sovereign right.
US Military Build-Up in the Middle East
Amid reports of potential American strikes, the US is deploying one of its largest concentrations of air power to the Middle East since the 2003 Iraq war. The build-up includes advanced fighter jets, F-35s, F-22s, F-15s, and F-16s, along with command-and-control aircraft and strengthened air defense systems.
The US Navy currently has 13 ships in the Middle East and eastern Mediterranean, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and nine missile-capable destroyers. A second carrier, USS Gerald R Ford, and its strike group are also on the way.
Reports indicate the US military could be ready to act as early as this weekend, although Trump has not authorized any strike. Senior national security officials meeting in the White House Situation Room were told all deployed forces are expected to be in place by mid-March.
With military assets surging and negotiations showing limited progress, the standoff is reaching a critical phase, one that could determine whether Washington and Tehran step back from confrontation or move closer to open conflict.