Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly called U.S. President Donald Trump 48 hours before the attack on Iran to discuss launching a complex and distant war. According to sources familiar with the call, Netanyahu persuaded Trump by highlighting an opportunity to kill Iran’s then–Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was expected to meet his top aides in Tehran. The conversation, previously undisclosed, took place as intelligence indicated the meeting had been rescheduled to an earlier time.

Sources said Netanyahu had long pushed for such an operation and argued that eliminating Khamenei would avenge Iran’s earlier assassination plots against Trump. During the call, Trump appeared positive about a military strike but had not yet decided when or under what conditions the U.S. would directly engage. The U.S. military subsequently increased its regional presence, and officials believed a decision was imminent.

The call reportedly influenced Trump’s February 27 decision to authorize “Operation Epic Fury.” The first bombs struck on February 28, and Trump later announced Khamenei’s death. A White House spokesperson said the operation aimed to destroy Iran’s missile capabilities and prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons.