WSJ: Vance Advised Trump Before Iran War, Intelligence Chief Warned Against Assassinating Khamenei

The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. Vice President JD Vance backed pursuing negotiations on Iran’s nuclear file ahead of the war.

The Wall Street Journal cited officials saying Vance informed President Trump before the war that Iran might abandon its nuclear program through diplomacy, and quoted a White House spokesperson as saying it would be wise for Iran to reach an agreement, otherwise it understands the consequences.

The newspaper noted that days before Trump announced war on Iran in February, he summoned the head of intelligence to the Oval Office to ask whether launching a full-scale attack was a sound idea.

Senior aides and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had told Trump that Iran was in its weakest state in decades, offering him a rare opportunity to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program and cement his legacy as a peacemaker. The key question was whether a large-scale attack would succeed and possibly topple the regime.

However, the intelligence chief warned the Trump administration against assassinating the Supreme Leader, according to officials, who said the warning about killing Khamenei signaled that a more hardline leadership could succeed him. Additionally, the former intelligence chief’s warning to the Trump administration emphasized that assassinating Khamenei would not bring down the system.

These disclosures come as the U.S. administration holds Tehran responsible for the failure of diplomacy and the current military escalation.

The Wall Street Journal quoted the White House as saying Trump destroyed Iran’s military and nuclear facilities and is now preparing to crush its economy.

Washington announced it launched a campaign to economically strangle Iran, with the U.S. Treasury stating this operation, aimed at suffocating Iran’s economy and regime, includes five vital sectors.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the goal of American actions is to isolate Iran and sever its financial ties with the world.

Source: Wall Street Journal