Is Trump eying to assassinate Khamenei? US troops’ movement intensifies in Portugal and Gulf bases | World News
Ongoing US-Iran tensions have taken a turn for the worse, with talks taking place from Oman to Geneva, leaders drawing ‘red lines’ and US President Donald Trump issuing a stark 10-15 day ultimatum to Iran demanding a nuclear deal centering on completely abandoning uranium enrichment or face serious consequences.
Reports indicate that President Donald Trump is considering military options well beyond diplomacy, including targeted attacks against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, his son Mojtaba, and leading mullahs.
According to news, US President Trump is considering his options; one of them is “to eliminate the country’s Religious Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Imam Ali Khamenei, his son and the mullahs”.
Add Zee News as Preferred Source
Also Read: DESCRIPTION | Talks in Geneva, tensions in Hormuz: Who is blocking the US-Iran breakthrough?
Is the USA planning to assassinate the Iranian leader?
President Trump is considering various military scenarios, including one targeting Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his potential successor, his son Mujtaba, for assassination, according to an Axios report citing multiple sources.
“He has plans for every scenario. One option is to eliminate the Ayatollah, his son, and the mullahs,” a senior Trump adviser told Axios. The advisor emphasized that there was no final decision and said, “Nobody knows what the president will choose. I don’t think he knows.” Another senior administration official confirmed that the plot to assassinate Khamenei and his son Mojtaba was presented to Trump weeks ago.
Despite reports including potential direct attacks on Iran’s senior leaders, a third Trump administration source said Trump remains strategically flexible and could green light an attack at any time.
US troop movements intensified in Portugal and the Gulf
As US-Iran tensions escalate over Tehran’s nuclear program, the US has sharply increased military deployment in Portugal’s Azores and Gulf bases, positioning its forces for potential rapid strikes.
Various reports confirm major reinforcements in Qatar, Bahrain and Jordan, as well as an unprecedented buildup at Lajes Air Base on Terceira Island, fueling speculation of imminent action against Iran.
US troops stationed at Al Udeid in Qatar and Bahrain’s 5th Fleet headquarters detailed the precautionary evacuation of hundreds of personnel due to fear of retaliatory attacks by Iran, the New York Times reported.
“Troops had been evacuated from key hubs like Al Udeid and bases in Bahrain,” the Times said, quoting unnamed Pentagon officials, though a senior U.S. official later denied this to Fox News and insisted “no such mass evacuation occurred,” fueling mixed signals as aircraft carriers such as the USS Gerald R. Ford moved toward the region.
This comes with an “armada” buildup of 30,000-40,000 troops, fighter wings and destroyers, according to NYT maps, the largest since the 2003 Invasion of Iraq.
The lavish meal of US soldiers…a signal of a possible attack?
The escalating situation between Washington and Tehran emerged on social media platforms with photos of US soldiers at Gulf bases enjoying steak, lobster, crab legs and pie, fueling a viral theory that such lavish “surf and turf” meals signaled an imminent attack on Iran.
Social media users are drawing parallels with pre-2025 nuclear site attacks, when similar banquets preceded actions; Experts say these have boosted morale but fueled speculation amid Trump’s 10-15 day uranium ultimatum demanding zero enrichment.
These rumors coincide with the deployment of massive contingents in Qatar, Bahrain and Jordan, the USS Abraham Lincoln and Gerald R. Ford aircraft carriers near Hormuz, as well as F-35s and tankers at Portugal’s Lajes Air Base; However, the allegations were not confirmed by the Pentagon. The timing coincides with Tehran’s looming deadline.
