The conflict, the most intense fighting between the two countries in decades, has been met in the United States with feelings of “frustration and helplessness,” as well as heartbreak.

The Israelis had the opportunity to assassinate Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Trump conveyed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that it wasn't a "good idea," one U.S. official told CBS News.

Israel had a plan to assassinate Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, but President Trump vetoed the operation, according to reports.

President Donald Trump said Sunday the United States is not involved in Israel's military strikes against Iran, but "it's possible we could get involved." In an interview with ABC News' Rachel Scott,

Amid ongoing strikes between Israel and Iran, Trump is publicly and privately making clear his desire to keep the United States out of the fray for now.

Israel has tried to convince the U.S. to get involved as both Israel and Iran escalate their strikes on each other.

President Donald Trump told ABC News that "it's possible we could get involved" in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. The president made the comments to ABC News' Rachel Scott. He also reiterated that the U.S. is "not at this moment involved" in the conflict.

Shapiro served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East until January—charged with, among other things, considering scenarios in which tensions between Israel and Iran escalated into all-out war and preparing U.

The two powers have been exchanging barrages since Israel attacked Iran and killed many of the country’s top military leaders and scientists.

Countries trade strikes as tensions grow over larger Middle East conflict - Iranian missiles struck an apartment building in the Galilee region, killing four people, as the countries exchanged fire