Should the U.S. be in business of assassinating foreign leaders?

In the opening strike of their war on Iran, the US and Israel killed the Islamic Republic’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It is an exceedingly rare instance of democracies killing a foreign head of state.

It’s not the first time the United States has been involved in the killing of a foreign leader, but it’s something U.S. leaders and the American public have long wrestled with.

NPR’s Ryan Lucas reports.

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This episode was produced by Mallory Yu and Erika Ryan, with audio engineering by Jay Czys.

It was edited by John Ketchum and Anna Yukhanov.

Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.


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