Trump may assassinate Khamenei this week, says ex-envoy

“Trump’s comments and Khamenei’s mindless baiting of Trump lead me to believe that Trump is going to try to kill the Supreme Leader this week.”

By World Israel News Staff

As confusion continues to swirl following last week’s non-strike on Iran, after multiple signs pointed to imminent U.S. military action, former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro offered a blunt assessment of what President Donald Trump’s next move could be.

In a post on X, Shapiro argued that Trump’s recent public comments, combined with escalating rhetoric from Iran’s supreme leader, may point toward a dramatic shift in Washington’s posture, including the possibility of a direct attempt to target Iran’s top leader.

Shapiro’s remarks came after Trump lashed out at Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in comments reported by Politico, calling Khamenei “a sick man” and suggesting Iran should no longer be led by its current ruler.

“It’s time to look for new leadership in Iran,” Trump said.

Shapiro said Trump’s call for new leadership, along with what he described as Khamenei’s “mindless baiting” of Trump on X, led him to believe the president may be considering unprecedented action.

“Trump’s comments to @Politico on needing new leadership in Iran, and Khamenei’s mindless baiting of Trump on X, lead me to believe that Trump is going to try to kill the Supreme Leader this week,” Shapiro wrote.

He pointed to the expected arrival of a U.S. carrier strike group in the Middle East as a key factor that could enable broader operations, including extensive strikes and preparations for Iranian retaliation.

“There will soon be a US carrier strike group in the Middle East, making it easier for the US to carry out extensive strikes in Iran and be prepared to defend against Iranian response strikes,” he wrote.

Shapiro suggested that such a move could be paired with strikes on IRGC and Basij command-and-control nodes, allowing Trump to argue he is keeping faith with Iranian protesters he encouraged and fulfilling his threats to make the regime pay for massacring them.

But he cautioned that even eliminating Khamenei would not necessarily lead to regime change, warning it could instead be followed by an IRGC takeover and a continued aggressive and repressive regime.

Shapiro stressed that real change in Iran would ultimately be driven by the Iranian people and would require sustained focus and largely non-kinetic measures, not “a one-and-done strike.”

Shapiro’s analysis landed amid growing uncertainty over Trump’s Iran strategy, particularly after last week’s anticipated strike did not take place despite widespread expectation that military action was near.

The conflicting signals have fueled speculation about whether Washington is delaying a decision, recalibrating its approach, or intentionally projecting ambiguity to keep Tehran off balance.

Similar themes were echoed by U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, who is currently visiting Israel and dismissed headlines questioning Trump’s resolve. Graham argued that the key issue is not whether Trump is serious, but whether U.S. operations will expand or narrow in the days ahead.

“The headlines you’re seeing about Trump lacking resolve are not accurate,” Graham said, according to remarks shared in Israel. “The question is whether these operations grow or shrink.”

Graham said he believes the Iranian regime’s “days are numbered,” adding that he is more optimistic now than at any point in recent months.

“Follow my activity over the next day or two and we’ll see,” he said.

He also framed the moment as historic, arguing that those who fail to recognize its scale are missing the magnitude of what may be unfolding.

“If you don’t understand that this is the greatest moment for change since the fall of the Berlin Wall, you’re missing a lot,” Graham said.

For now, however, the outcome remains unclear. Trump’s rhetoric has grown sharper, speculation continues to build, and the steady stream of conflicting reports shows no sign of slowing.

Whether the ambiguity reflects internal debate, shifting diplomatic calculations, or a deliberate effort to keep Tehran off balance, the next move may come with little warning.