Less than 48 hours before the joint US-Israeli strike on Iran, Netanyahu called Trump. Both had intelligence that Supreme Leader Khamenei and key advisors would gather at a Tehran complex. Netanyahu argued that eliminating Khamenei was a unique opportunity. He referenced an alleged 2024 assassination plot against Trump blamed on Iran.

The bombing began Saturday morning February 28, and Trump announced Khamenei's death that evening. Operation "Epic Wrath" devastated Iran's ballistic missile production, navy, and proxy infrastructure. Consequences: over 2,300 Iranian civilians dead, 13 US service members killed, Iranian counterattacks, Gulf ally strikes, shipping lane closures, and historic oil price spikes. CIA assessments contradicted regime-change optimism. New Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei (son) is considered an even fiercer US opponent.