The United States has denied any role in the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
American officials said the operation that led to his death was carried out by Israel, not by U.S. forces.
Speaking before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Pentagon official Elbridge Colby said the strike that killed Khamenei and other senior Iranian figures was not part of America’s military campaign.
He told lawmakers clearly, “Those are Israeli operations,” while rejecting claims that the United States was pushing for regime change in Iran.
Colby explained that Washington’s focus remains on Iran’s growing missile strength and its weapons production network.
He said these facilities and capabilities are the main targets of U.S. military planning.
According to him, such objectives are limited and achievable.
His comments appeared to contrast with earlier remarks by President Donald Trump, who suggested that Iran’s leadership could not evade U.S. intelligence systems.
Trump had also hinted that Iranian leaders were being closely monitored through cooperation between Washington and Tel Aviv.
Reports from Israel said the strike that killed Khamenei also claimed the lives of close family members.
Those killed reportedly included his daughter, grandchild, son-in-law, and daughter-in-law.
The Israeli army further announced the deaths of top Iranian officials during the operation.
Among them was Ali Shamkhani, a senior adviser to the Supreme Leader.
Also killed was General Mohammad Pakpour, the head of Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guards.
The Senate Armed Services Committee heard that the strikes were aimed at weakening Iran’s military command and disrupting its naval and missile forces.
U.S. officials insisted that their own operations were limited to strategic military assets, not political leadership.
Meanwhile, Israeli authorities said the attacks were part of a broader campaign to neutralize threats from Tehran. They claimed more than 49 senior Iranian military officials had been eliminated so far.