President Donald Trump has vetoed an Israeli plan in recent days to kill Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

According to senior US administration officials, quoted by Reuters, the justification is based on the fact that Iran has never attacked an American.

"No. Until they do. We're not even talking about going after the political leadership," they said.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that senior US officials have been in constant communication with Israeli officials since Israel launched a massive attack on Iran in an attempt to stop its nuclear program.

The Israelis reported that they had the opportunity to kill Iran's top leader, but Trump rejected the plan.

Trump has been holding out hope for a resumption of negotiations between the US and Iran over Tehran's nuclear program. The talks that were scheduled for Sunday in Oman were canceled as a result of the attacks.