Trump says US knows where Khamenei ‘is hiding,’ but won’t assassinate him ‘for now’

By Jacob Magid

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17 June 2025, 7:30 pm

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Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief

A composite image shows US President Donald Trump, left, addressing a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, March 4, 2025, and a handout of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei attending a ceremony in Tehran, Iran, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis - Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)

US President Donald Trump says Washington knows where Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is “hiding” and could assassinate him, but is refraining from doing so for now in order not to spark retaliation against American civilians and troops.

“We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding. He is an easy target, but is safe there — We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now,” Trump writes on Truth Social.

“But we don’t want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin,” he adds.

In a subsequent post, he writes, “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER.”